The dolphin family is very large. Some species of dolphins are found almost all across the world. Certain kinds like to live in schools of hundreds, but others like to live alone. Most dolphins reach the length of six feet and five inches. They are designed for speed and the ability to live in the ocean. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of this beloved animal are killed each year by fisherman.

The hardest part of a sea turtles life isn’t the shell on its back, but the trip from the shore to the ocean. Few survive this journey. The only time a sea turtle gets out of the water is to lay the approximate one hundred eggs. Some turtles can grow up to seven feet in length. Not all of them eat the same things. Some are carnivores, some herbivores, and some are omnivores. Some sea turtle species are in serious danger of total extinction.

Scientists have come to the idea that sea lions first appeared in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. Over time they settled in the southern hemisphere. Sea lions prefer to lie out on open beaches that are away from heavy surf. Pups are born in June. Mothers know which pups are hers by listening to their voices. The most commonly known sea lions are the California Sea Lions (the ones you see in circuses) and the Galapagos Sea Lions (which are the friendliest ones and greet you at the shore.)

When you hear the word “shark,” you think of violence and danger. There are mixed emotions with this animal, but actually out of the three hundred species of sharks, only twenty-seven of them are known to attack humans. Amazingly, sharks can fast for long periods of time, whereas some people think they have huge appetites. However, they can be quite unpredictable.

Every starfish has five arms and get to be over the size of three feet. When it’s in the water, it is said to be flexible. The ones we see in gift shops and such are the dead, dried out ones. Their coloration and spiny skin make for a good defense against their enemies.

Seahorses live in the weeds of the oceans. They eat food through their tubular mouth and can swim by rippling the fin in the middle of its back.