One third of the Earth is covered with water so the great number of living creatures on our beautiful planet call it home. The ocean is home to an abundance of amazing species. Some impress us with their beautiful hues, others with how they disguise themselves, and many with how they survive in an ecosystem so different from ours. But what has attracted people for millennia is how big and fast some of these sea creatures are.
An expansive (and uncharted) ocean offers greater space for growth and shelter. Some of these creatures are still incredibly enigmatic and elusive. The water is home to a vast array of amazing species. In this article we are going to take a brief look at the largest water animals in the world.
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Top 10 Fastest Water Animals in The world
Here, in this article we are going to take a brief look into the top 10 fastest water animals in the world. This list might not be accurate as some individual animals could be bigger in size compared to other in the same species. Let’s dive into the Top 10 fastest water animals in the World.
10. Killer Whale
The largest dolphin in the oceanic dolphin family is the toothed orca (Orcinus orca), also known as the killer whale. Orcas are distinguished by their bodies with patterns of black and white. Apex predators, orcas have a diverse diet. Individual populations frequently focus on specific kinds of prey. This comprises a wide range of fish, sharks, rays, and marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and seals. They have strong social ties; certain populations are made up of matrilineal family units that are remarkably persistent (pods). There has never been a recorded fatal attack in an orca’s native habitat, and orcas generally pose no threat to humans.
- Size: 20 – 26 feet
- Weight: 5900 – 6000 pounds
- Speed: 55 km/h (34.8mph)
- Average Life-Span: 50 – 80 years
The largest dolphin species that exists today is the orca. Males typically weigh more than 6 tones (5.9 long tons; 6.6 short tons) and measure between 6 and 8 meters (20 and 26 feet) in length. Male orcas have considerably larger pectoral fins than females, which are spherical and large like paddles. When the mouth is closed, the orca’s top teeth slip into the spaces between its lower teeth due to its strong jaws and teeth. Orcas have strong hearing, superb sense of touch, and exceptional vision both above and below the sea. Because they hunt in packs similar to wolves, they are frequently referred to as “wolves of the sea”.
9. Flying Fish
The Exocoetidae are a group of marine ray-finned fish in the Beloniformes order, popularly known as flying fish or flying cod. Flying fish can be found all throughout the ocean, but they are most prevalent in tropical and warm subtropical seas. They are typically found in the epipelagic zone, which is the ocean’s top layer up to a depth of approximately 200 meters (660 feet). Flying fish typically fly for approximately 50 m (160 ft.), although they can reach up to 400 m (1,300 ft.) exploiting updrafts on the leading edges of waves.
- Size: 7 – 18 in.
- Weight: upto 900 grams
- Speed: 56 km/h (35 mph)
- Average Life-Span: upto 5 years
In Japan, Vietnam, and China, flying fish are commercially caught using gillnets, while in Indonesia and India, they are caught with dipnets. Barbados is regarded as “the land of the flying fish,” with the fish serving as one of the country’s symbols. Flying fish frequently land on the decks of smaller vessels. The Exocoetidae primarily feed on plankton. Predators include dolphins, tuna, marlin, birds, squid, and porpoises. The Exocet missile is named after them because variations are launched underwater and have a low trajectory, skimming the surface before striking their targets.
8. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a species of tuna of the Scombridae family. Atlantic bluefins inhabit both the western and eastern Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. The body of an Atlantic bluefin tuna is rhomboidal in shape and sturdy. The skull is conical, and the mouth is quite huge. The fish’s head features a “pineal window” that enables it to navigate over thousands of miles. Their color is dark blue above and gray below, with gold coruscation on the body and vivid yellow caudal fins. Fully grown adult specimens are typically 2-2.5 m (6.6-8.2 ft.) length and weigh between 225-250 kg (496-551 lb).
- Size: 2 – 2.5 meters
- Weight: 225 – 250 kg
- Speed: 44 mph
- Average Life-Span: upto 40 years
The bluefin has great muscular strength, which it directs through a pair of tendons to its lunate-shaped caudal fin for propulsion. In contrast to many other fish, the body remains rigid while the tail flicks back and forth, which improves stroke efficiency. Bluefins dive to depths of 1,006 metres (3,301 feet). The Atlantic bluefin tuna hunts tiny fish like sardines, herring, mackerel, and eels, as well as invertebrate like squid and crabs. Many predators consume Atlantic bluefin tuna. When they first hatch, they are devoured by other fish that specialize in eating plankton. Adult Atlantic Bluefin are only eaten by the largest billfish, toothed whales, and a few open ocean shark species.
7. Shortfin Mako Shark
The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), often called the blue pointer or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It is generally known as the mako shark. The shortfin mako shark is a very large type of shark. An adult specimen typically measures 2.5 to 3.2 m (8.2 to 10.5 ft) in length and weighs 60-140 kg (130-310 lb). The shortfin mako shark is cylindrical in shape and has a vertically extended tail. This species has countershading, with a beautiful metallic blue hue dorsally and white ventrally. It is a pelagic species that can be found from the surface to depths of 150 meters (490 feet), usually far from land, but rarely closer to shore, around islands or inlets.
- Size: 2.5 – 3.2 meters
- Weight: 60 – 140 kg
- Speed: 74 km/h (45 mph)
- Average Life-Span: 30 – 32 years
The shortfin mako lives in offshore temperate and tropical oceans around the world. Shortfin mako sharks travel large distances to find meals or mates. One specimen swam 2,128 kilometers (1,322 miles) in 37 days, an average of 58 kilometers (36 miles) every day. The shortfin mako can grow to be 4 metres (13 feet) long and weigh 570 kilograms (1,260 pounds). The shortfin mako shark mostly feeds on cephalopods and bony fish, such as mackerels, tunas, bonitos, and swordfish, although it may also consume other sharks, porpoises, sea turtles, and seabirds. A shortfin mako shark’s bite is particularly strong; the current record for the strongest bite measured for any shark is held by a shortfin mako.
6. Yellowfin Tuna
The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is a tuna species that lives in the pelagic seas of tropical and subtropical oceans across the world. The yellowfin tuna is one of the largest tuna species, weighing more than 180 kg (400 lb), yet it is much smaller than the Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tunas. The second dorsal fin and anal fin, as well as the finlets connecting those fins to the tail, are brilliant yellow, giving this fish its common name. The main body is a very dark metallic blue that transitions to silver on the belly, which has approximately 20 vertical lines. Yellowfin tuna are epipelagic fish that live in the ocean’s mixed surface layer, above the thermocline.
- Size: 1.5 – 2.1 meters
- Weight: upto 200 kg
- Speed: 20.8 m/s (47 mph)
- Average Life-Span: 6 – 7 years
Although yellowfin tuna are typically found in deep offshore areas, they may approach the coast when conditions are favorable. Yellowfin tuna frequently migrate in schools with other fish of the same size. Yellowfin tuna prey includes other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid. Their body form, like that of all tunas, is uniquely suited for speed, allowing them to pursue and catch fast-moving baitfish such as flying fish, sauries, and mackerel.
Tuna, unlike other fish, have warm blood. Yellowfins can swim at up to 20.8 m/s (47 mph), allowing them to avoid most predators. Due to a biological hydraulic system involving the lymphatic system, a tuna’s fins retract into grooves when swimming swiftly, resulting in a smooth aerodynamic surface and increased speed.
5. Mahi-Mahi
The mahi-mahi, also known as the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), is a ray-finned fish that lives off-shore in temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters all over the world. Mahi-mahi have compressed bodies and a single long dorsal fin that extends from the head almost to the tail. Mature males have prominent “foreheads” that expand as the fish matures and frequently protrude far beyond the body proper, which is streamlined by back musculature.
Mahi-mahi can live up to five years, but they are rarely older than four. Females are generally smaller than males. Catches often weigh 7 to 13 kg (15 to 29 lb) and measure one meter in length. They rarely weigh more than 15 kg (33 pounds), and mahi-mahi weighing more than 18 kg (40 pounds) are considered remarkable.
- Size: 1.5 – 2.1 meters
- Weight: upto 200 kg
- Speed: 92.6 km/h ( 57.5mph)
- Average Life-Span: 6 – 7 years
Mahi-mahi can live up to five years, but they are rarely older than four. Mahi-mahi are among the fastest growing fish. They spawn in warm water currents for most of the year, and their young are frequently seen amid rafts of Sargassum weed. Mahi-mahi are carnivores that eat flying fish, crabs, squid, mackerel, and other forage fish. They’ve also been known to consume zooplankton. Mahi-mahi are quick swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 50 knots (92.6 km/h, 57.5 mph) when pursuing such diverse pelagic prey. Females can spawn two to three times each year, laying between 80,000 and 1,000,000 eggs per occurrence.
4. Wahoo Fish
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) is a scombrid fish that lives in tropical and subtropical waters all over the world. It is well known to sports anglers for its speed and high-quality flesh, which make it a desirable and valuable game fish. Its body is elongated, and the back is iridescent blue. The sides are silvery, with an uneven vertical blue bar pattern. These colors fade swiftly after death. Wahoo’s have a huge mouth and razor-sharp teeth. The upper and lower jaws appear sharper than those of king or Spanish mackerel. Specimens have measured up to 2.5 m (8 ft. 2 in) in length and weighed up to 83 kg (183 lb).
- Size: upto 2.5 meters
- Weight: upto 83 kg
- Speed: 77 km/h (48 mph)
- Average Life-Span: 5 – 6 years
The eggs of the species are buoyant, whereas the larvae are pelagic. Wahoo are often solitary or live in loosely organized groups of two or three. Where conditions are favorable, they can be found at schools with a population of 100 or more. Their food consists of other fish and squid. It is well-known in sport fishing circles for the speed and ferocity of its initial run. They’re among the quickest fish in the sea.
3. Swordfish
The swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as the broadbill in some countries, is a huge, highly migratory predatory fish distinguished by its long, flat, pointed bill. Swordfish are ectothermic creatures. They, like several shark species, have specific organs near to their eyes known as heater cells, which heat their eyes and brains. They usually exceed 3 m (10 ft.) in length, with the biggest one documented at 4.55 m (14 ft. 11 in) and 682 kg (1,500 lb). Swordfish prefer water temperatures between 18 and 22 °C (64 and 72 °F), but have the broadest tolerance among billfish, ranging from 5 to 27 °C (41 to 81 °F).
- Size: 3 – 4.55 meters
- Weight: upto 682 kg
- Speed: 100 km/h (60 mph)
- Average Life-Span: about 15 years
This extremely migratory fish usually migrates to colder places to feed throughout the summer. To catch its prey, the swordfish uses its incredible speed and agility in the water. It is undeniably one of the fastest fish, although the basis for the usually claimed speed of 100 km/h (60 mph) is flawed. They swim alone or in loose aggregations, up to 10 meters (35 feet) apart from a neighboring swordfish. They are frequently seen basking on the surface and airing their first dorsal fin. Adults eat a diverse range of pelagic species, including mackerel, barracudinas, silver hake, rockfish, herring, and lanternfish.
2. Sailfish
The sailfish is one of two marine fish species in the genus Istiophorus that are members of the Istiophoridae family (marlins). They are blue to gray in color, with white underbelly. They derive their name from their remarkable dorsal fin, which is roughly the length of their body and much taller than it is thick. The sailfish is an epipelagic and oceanic species with a strong preference for continental shores, islands, and reefs in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Sailfish grow rapidly, reaching lengths of 1.2-1.5 meters (4-5 feet) in a single year. Sailfish rarely reach 3 metres (10 feet) in length and weigh more over 90 kilograms (200 pounds).
- Size: 1.5 – 3 meters
- Weight: upto 90 kg
- Speed: 109 km/h (68 mph)
- Average Life-Span: upto 15 years
Sailfish have been observed attacking schooling fish with their bills, either tapping (short-range movement) or slashing (horizontal large-range movement). When swimming, the sailfish generally folds its sail down and only raises it when attacking prey. They lurk on the ocean’s surface, typically far from land, preying on swarms of tiny fish like as sardines and anchovies, which they frequently shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey. They also feed on squid and octopus. It is one of the world’s fastest aquatic species, capable of reaching speeds of up to 68 mph.
1. Black Marlin
The black marlin (Istiompax indica) is a marlin species that lives in the Indian and Pacific Oceans’ tropical and subtropical regions. The black marlin reaches the same or greater size as the blue marlin. It is one of the largest marlins and bony fish, reaching lengths of more than 4.5 m (15 ft.). It can weigh above 700 kg (1,500 pounds). They have a shorter bill and a more rounded and lower dorsal fin. Black marlins can be differentiated from all other marlin species by their inflexible pectoral fins, which, especially at a weight of roughly 68 kg (150 lb), cannot be forced flat against their sides but can be leaned further backwards for reduced drag.
- Size: upto 4.5 meters
- Weight: upto 700 kg
- Speed: 129 km/h (80 mph)
- Average Life-Span: 5 – 11 years
They have a dark blue dorsal (top) side, a silvery-white belly, and thin blue vertical stripes down their flanks. Their first dorsal fin is blackish to dark blue, while their other fins are dark brown with rare blue flecks. Their food consists primarily of various fish and cephalopods. They may consume tuna, mackerel, snake mackerel, flying fish, squid, crabs, and octopus. Black marlins are a powerful, fast pelagic species valued by sport fishermen (and arguably the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of up to 129 km/h or 80 mph).
Conclusion
Most of these data are based on researches done by some individuals and it does not imply the accuracy of speed on every individual animals of the species. There are other different factors that can impact of the length and weight such as diet, water, or safety. Some individual can swim faster than others. Who knows researchers out there may find out some new exciting information in near future.
Also Don’t Forget to Check the list of
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Top 10 Poorest Countries in the World
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Top 10 Fastest Flying Birds in the World
Video Reference
Other References
- https://www.marinebio.org/species/black-marlins/istiompax-indica/
- https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/fastest-animals-in-the-world/
- https://oceaninfo.com/list/fastest-sea-animals/
- https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/the-15-fastest-animals-in-the-sea/
- https://a-z-animals.com/animals/lists/fastest-sea-animals/
- https://poseidonexpeditions.com/about/articles/what-is-the-fastest-ocean-animal-in-the-world/
