Our ocean is home to some of the most magnificent animals on Earth. From the largest sea turtle in the world to sharks that use teamwork to hunt, there’s no shortage of wonder when it comes to our ocean. If these photos of spectacular marine wildlife don’t leave you speechless, we don’t know what will.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)
Photographer: Ben Hicks
Location: Trinidad and Tobago
Seahorse
(Genus Hippocampus)
Photographer: Jules Casey
Location: Port Phillip Bay, Australia
Puffin
(Genus Fratercula)
Photographer: Harry Read
Location: Wales
Harbor Seal
(Phoca vitulina)
Photographer: George Karbus
Location: Southern California
Polar Bear
(Ursus maritimus)
Photographer: Daisy Gilardini
Location: Wapusk National Park
Manatee
(Trichechus manatus)
Photographer: James R.D. Scott
Location: Crystal River, Florida
Piping Plover
(Charadrius melodus)
Photographer: Melissa Groo
Location: New Jersey
Pteropod
(Class Gastropoda)
Photographer: David Cothran
Location: Hornsund
Sea Sheep
(Costasiella kuroshimae)
Photographer: Jim Chen
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Sandpiper
(Family Scolopacidae)
Photographer: Pat Ulrich
Location: Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Spotted Eagle Ray
(Aetobatus narinari)
Photographer: Jordan Robins
Location: Heron Island, Australia
Blacktip Reef Shark
(Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Photographer: Thomas Peschak
Location: Seychelles
Humpback Whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)
Photographer: Grant Thomas
Location: Indonesia
Spinner Shark
(Carcharhinus brevipinna)
Photographer: Lewis Burnett
Location: Ningaloo Reef, Australia
Bobtail Squid
(Order Sepiolida)
Photographer: Matt Smith
Location: New South Wales
Whale Shark
(Rhincodon typus)
Photographer: Suju Gasim
Location: South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Galapagos Sea Lion
(Zalophus wollebaeki)
Photographer: Paul Nicklen
Location: Galapagos Islands
Mobula Ray
(Genus Mobula)
Photographer: Nick Polanszky (Coral Reef Image Bank)
Location: Mexico
African Penguin
(Spheniscus demersus)
Photographer: Emmett Sparling
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Human Beings
(AKA, you!)
Photographer: Merr Watson
Location: Trigg Beach, Western Australia
You may be wondering, why on Earth would we include humans on a list of marine wildlife? Well, the answer is simple: we are tied to the ocean, and our actions affect marine ecosystems every day. The wildlife on this list—as well as countless other marine animals that call the ocean home—need our help. Problems from marine debris to ocean acidification to unsustainable fishing practices and more threaten our planet’s wildlife. Without action, we risk losing iconic ocean animals to extinction.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We all have the ability to protect, rebuild and conserve our ocean.
Join Ocean Conservancy’s email list today to stay updated on how you can help protect marine wildlife like these, both now and in the days to come!