Freshwater Fish
Freshwater fish live in lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. Common freshwater fish include carp, bass, trout and catfish.
Saltwater Fish
Saltwater fish are the most beautiful fish in the world. They range from the majestic marlin to the funny-looking flounder, and the goliath grouper to the tiny blenny, and just about everything in between. See full list.
Corals & Jellies
Cnidarians such as jellyfish and corals have stinging cells called nematocysts. When touched they eject barbed threads tipped with poison.
- How Coral Reefs Work
How do coral polyps mere millimeters in length form the world's largest living structures? Will these giants of the sea last much longer if the present rate of destruction continues? - How Jellyfish Work Although jellyfish have been around for over 650 million years, they're stil very mysterious. Learn the all about the fascinating jellyfish life cycle.
- Coral Coral is a hard material formed in the sea by colonies of tiny animals.
- Jellyfish Jellyfish are soft-bodied water-dwelling animals.
- Portuguese Man-of-War The Portuguese Man-of-War is a floating marine animal found in warm regions of all oceans.
- Sea Anemone Sea Anemone is a marine animal closely related to the corals.
Crustaceans
There are more than 52,000 species of Crustaceans in the world which include popular marine animals like lobsters, crabs, shrimp, crayfish and barnacles. Smaller crustacean breathe through their bodies and larger ones breathe through gills.
- Barnacle A Barnacle is a small saltwater animal with a protective shell-like covering.
- Crab A Crab is a land- or water-dwelling crustacean.
- Crayfish Crayfish are sometimes referred to as crawfish or crawdads.
- Crustacean A Crustacean is a member of a large class of animals with segmented bodies.
- Hermit Crab A Hermit Crab is a land- or water-dwelling crustacean.
- Lobster A Lobster is an animal related to the crayfish and shrimp that lives in the sea.
- Shrimp Shrimp is an animal found in both freshwater and saltwater throughout the world.
- Predatory Shrimp (Video) Examine the unique abilities of shrimp.
Mollusks
Mollusks are members of the invertebrate phylum Mollusca and contain more than 100,000 species. Some mollusks have shells like clams and snails, while larger mollusks have no bones at all like the cuttlefish, squid and octopus.
- How Octopuses Work To elude predators, the octopus will change color in an instant and even alter its shape to look like other sea animals. Does its magic put the chameleon to shame?
- How Squid Work Squid have been featured in sailing myths and legends for more than 300 years.
- Oyster Oysters are an edible mollusk that has a two-pieced shell.
- Scallop A Scallop is an edible mollusk related to the oyster and the clam.
- Squid Squid are fast marine animals that have no backbone.
- Could a squid take down a submarine? Giant squid are aggressive creatures that prey on almost anything that comes their way. How big do these monsters of the sea get, and could they really take down a watercraft?
- Clam Clam is the popular name for several types of two-shelled mollusks related to the scallops and oysters.
- Conch Conch is a large marine mollusk having a spiral shell.
- Mussel Mussel is a two-part mollusk. Mussels are found in oceans and in fresh water.
- Slug A Slug is the common name for different types of mollusks that are related to snails.
- Snail Snail, a mollusk that bears a univalve (one-piece) shell. A typical snail shell is cone-shaped and spirally coiled.
- Mysteries of the Octopus (Video) A marine biologist demystifies the octopus.
- Three Facts About Octopuses (Video) Three questions are answered about the mysterious octopus.
- Wicked Smart Octopus (Video) Watch this video about a smart octopus on HowStuffWorks. An octopus in a New Zealand aquarium has learned how to open glass jars and bottles with its tentacles to retrieve food inside. The octopus is among the most intelligent of all invertebrates.
- Cuttlefish's Amazing Camouflage (Video) Watch this video about a cuttlefish's camouflage capabilities on HowStuffWorks. A cuttlefish's camouflage ability is superior to any other animal's camouflaging techniques. Learn about cuttlefish and their unique ability to camouflage themselves.
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Other Fish
Other Fish covers fish species that are neither fresh or saltwater. Usually these species migrate between fresh and saltwater.
Other Marine Life
Learn about some of the some of the most bizzare marine life under the sea, such as Sea Squirts, sponges and even Sea Monkeys.
Starfish & Organisms
Echinoderms are spiny marine animals such as starfish and sea urchins. Most echinoderms have small jaws, a water-vascular system and tube feet.
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