The ocean is filled with animals in a vast array of shapes and sizes. Although most people are familiar with the large size of whales and sharks, they might be surprised at just how large a sea star or jellyfish can get. Here are a few of the ocean’s largest animals.
The Blue Whale is the Largest Living Animal
The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest mammal and possible the largest animal to ever live on this planet, according to the American Cetacean Society’s webpage “Blue Whale”. The largest recorded was 33 meters (108 feet) in length. Although these giant creatures can weigh up to 136,000 kilograms (150 tons) they eat only tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill. These mighty beasts can be found throughout all the ocean’s waters from the Earth's poles to the equator.
The Largest Fish in the Ocean
The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the biggest fish in the sea and while it is not a whale it is classified as a shark. Whale sharks can be found around the world and according to the National Geographic’s “Whale Shark Profile” the largest measured was 12.2 meters (40 feet) long; however they are thought to grow bigger. Although huge, the whale shark eats mostly plankton and is a filter feeder.
The Biggest Marine Creatures with Tentacles
The largest Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) measured was 18 meters (59 feet) in length and weighed 900 kilograms (1 ton) according to the National Geographic’s 2009 “Giant Squid Profile”. These creatures have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom at 25 centimeters (11 inches) across. Although the Colossal Squid is the largest invertebrate on Earth, little is known of them.
The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) is commonly found off the coast of England according to the Marine Life Information Network. It can grow up to 200 centimeters (6.5 feet) and has a deadly sting.
The Largest Ocean Animals with Shells
The Japanese Spider Crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) at 4 meters (13 feet) from claw to claw is likely the largest arthropod in the world says the Britannica Online Enclopaedia in “Giant Crab”. This crab can weigh up to 40 pounds and lives in the Pacific Ocean off of Japan at depths of 50-300 meters (150-1000 feet).
The Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) is the fitting name for the largest shelled mollusk as the National Geographic reports in its 2009 "Giant Clam Profile". At 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length this large ocean creature can weigh up to 227 kilograms (500 pounds). This giant found around Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean can live over 100 years when left alone. Unfortunately, due to over-harvesting by humans for food and shells this amazing marine animal is considered a vulnerable species by many groups.
The Ocean's Giant Sea Stars
The title of longest and heaviest sea stars belong to two different species. The sea star, Thromidia catalai, can weigh up to 6 kilograms (13 pounds) and lives off the coast of New Caladonia according to Daniel Gilpin in the book Starfish, Urchins & Other Echinoderms, page 41. In the Gulf of New Mexico lives Midgardia xandaros which has long but slender arms extending 1.38 meters (4.5 feet) across.
The Ocean Contains Many Large Creatures
The ocean's creatures can grow surprisingly large. However, size is not the only interesting aspect of marine animals. Creatures of the sea display numerous interesting features including fish that can change gender and species living in dependent relationships with each other. Marine creatures are surely interesting to study given the variety of their size, shape, and lifestyles.
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