Open your eyes to a worl d of discovery

Eye Wonder
Eye Wonder
4-5
Ocean zones
6-7
The blue planet
8-9
What is a fish?
10-11
Fantastic fish
12-13
Jellyfish
14-15
Spectacular sharks
16-17
Ocean giants
18-19
Playful dolphins
20-21
Gentle sea cows
22-23
Soaring seabirds
24-25
Ocean travelers
26-27
Octopuses and squid
Contents
Written and edited by Samantha Gray
Designed by Mary Sandberg,
Janet Allis, and Cheryl Telfer
Publishing manager Mary Ling
Managing art editor Rachael Foster
US editors Gary Werner and Margaret Parrish
Jacket design Chris Drew
Picture researcher Nicole Kaczynski
Production Kate Oliver
DTP Designer Almudena Daz
Consultant Sue Thornton
Thanks to Sarah Walker for editorial assistance
First American edition, 2001
02 03 04 05 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Published in the United States by
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
Copyright 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Published
in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gray, Samantha.
Ocean / by Samantha Gray.-- 1st American ed.
p. cm -- (Eye wonder) Includes index.
ISBN 0-7894-7852-8 -- ISBN 0-7894-8180-4 (lib.bdg. :alk.paper)
I. Marine animals--Juvenile literature. [I. Marine animals.]
I. Title. II. Series.
QL121.G725 2001
591.77--dc21 2001017284
ISBN 0-7894-7852-8
Color reproduction by Colourscan, Singapore
Printed and bound in Italy by L.E.G.O.
See our complete product line at
www.dk.com
LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
MELBOURNE, AND DELHI
28-29
Living together
30-31
Down in the depths
32-33
Life on the
seabed
34-35
Coral reefs
36-37
Life in a
coral reef
38-39
Icy waters
40-41
Penguin party
42-43
Kingdom of kelp
44-45
Exploring underwater
46-47
Glossary
48
Index and
acknowledgments
Schools of fish like
these silver snappers
swim in the sunlit zone.
A red arrow pointing to the
middle area of this picture
indicates sea creatures living in the twilight
zone. Light becomes dim below 450ft (150m).
The twilight zone reaches from here down
to about 3,300ft (1,000m) deep.
Octopuses and
squid live in all
the ocean zones,
including the
twilight zone.
Twilight zone
A red arrow pointing to
the top area of this picture
indicates sea creatures living
in the sunlit zone. Sunlight
reaches down to about 450ft (150m) deep.
Most sea creatures live in sunlit water.
Sunlight reaches through shallow seas and
the upper waters of the open ocean.
Sunlit zone
A red arrow pointing to the lowest area
of this picture indicates sea creatures
living in the midnight zone. No sunlight
reaches below 3,300ft (1,000m), so the
midnight zone is pitch black and freezing
cold. The deepest parts of the ocean may
be more than 13,200ft (4,000m) deep.
This far down is known as the abyss.
There are also trenches where the ocean
is deeper than 19,800ft (6,000m).
Midnight zone
There is little food in the
midnight zone, but the
fangtooths huge mouth
allows it to vacuum up
anything that comes it way.
Deep-sea hatchet fish
have lights along their
bellies and tails that
glow in the darkness.

The deepest ocean is the Pacific, followed by

the Atlantic, then the Indian. The Arctic is the
shallowest of all the oceans.

Many sea creatures depend on ocean plantlife

for their food supply. Plants need sunlight to grow.

Coral and kelp only grow in sunlit seas.

Fishy facts
Ocean zones
Oceans may be divided into three zones
according to how far down sunlight reaches.
To see which zones creatures live in, look
for the red arrow in the picture below.

The blue planet

Oceans cover more than two thirds of the
Earths surface. In this vast underwater
world, many sea creatures live together,
often hidden beneath the waves.
Sea turtles
There are many types of sea
creatures, including reptiles such
as turtles. These have to rise to
the surface to breathe. They
breathe air through their nostrils.
Fishing for food
Oceans are a source
of food for seabirds,
who fly or swim in
search of fish.
Green turtles live in
warm waters in the Atlantic,
Indian, and Pacific Oceans..
The Pacific Ocean covers
more than one third of the
Earths surface.
Gulls swoop
down from the
sky to scoop up
a fishy snack.

Plankton
The sunlit ocean
teems with tiny
life forms called
plankton. These
are a vital food
source for many
sea creatures.
Breathing through blowholes
Whales are mammals. Unlike fish, they cannot
breathe underwater. They surface to breathe air
through their blowholes. Blue whales are the
largest mammals of all.
One big ocean
If you traveled in a boat, you
could sail to every ocean and
sea because they all join up.
It could be said that
there is really only
one vast ocean.
From space, Earth
looks blue because
water covers so much
of its surface.

The largest areas of

seawater are called oceans. The
smaller ones are called seas.

Wind creates waves on the

ocean surface. Strong winds
make bigger waves.

All seawater is salty. One of

the saltiest seas is the Red Sea.
Fishy facts
Swim like a fish!
Fish swim like snakes wriggle. Their bodies
form S-shaped curves. Most fish use their tails
for the main push forward. A few row
themselves along with their fins.
How fish breathe
On land, oxygen is in the air.
Water also contains oxygen.
Fish gulp water and run it
over their gills. Oxygen passes
through the gills into
the fishs blood.
Super senses
Fish can hear, smell, and taste.
They have taste buds in their
mouths, fins, and skin. This
polka-dot grouper swims head
down while prowling for food.
Opening
to gills
Muted color
camouflages fish
in the open ocean.
Shapes and
sizes of scales
vary in different fish.
Fish often
have excellent
eyesight.
All fish have fins for swimming
and gills for breathing under
water. Fish also have their
own suits of armor! Most
are covered in overlapping scales
like tiles on a roof. Some just have
extra-tough skin. They are slimy so that
they can glide swiftly through water.
What is a fish?
Safety in schools
Small fish such as saupe
often swim in large groups
called schools or shoals.
There is safety in numbers!
Dogfish wiggle
from side to side. Lesser spotted dogfish
9
US 08-9 What is a fish.qxd 26/2/08 11:50 am Page 14
Safety in schools
Small fish such as saupe
often swim in large groups
called schools or shoals.
There is safety in numbers!
Swim like a fish!
Fish swim like snakes wriggle. Their bodies
form S-shaped curves. Most fish use their tails
for the main push forward. A few row
themselves along with their fins.
How fish breathe
On land, oxygen is in the air.
Water also contains oxygen.
Fish gulp water and run it
over their gills. Oxygen passes
through the gills into
the fishs blood.
Super senses
Fish can hear, smell, and taste.
They have taste buds in their
mouths, fins, and skin. This
polka-dot grouper swims head
down while prowling for food.
Opening
to gills
Muted color
camouflages fish
in the open ocean.
Shapes and
sizes of scales
vary in different fish.
Fish often
have excellent
eyesight.
All fish have fins for swimming
and gills for breathing under
water. Fish also have their
own suits of armor! Most
are covered in overlapping scales
like tiles on a roof. Some just have
extra-tough skin. They are slimy so that
they can glide swiftly through water.
What is a fish?
Safety in schools
Small fish such as saupe
often swim in large groups
called schools or shoals.
There is safety in numbers!
Dogfish wiggle
from side to side. Lesser spotted dogfish
9
US 08-9 What is a fish.qxd 26/2/08 11:50 am Page 14

Swim like a fish!

Fish swim like snakes wriggle. Their bodies
form S-shaped curves. Most fish use their tails
for the main push forward. A few row
themselves along with their fins.
How fish breathe
On land, oxygen is in the air.
Water also contains oxygen.
Fish gulp water and run it
over their gills. Oxygen passes
through the gills into
the fishs blood.
Super senses
Fish can hear, smell, and taste.
They have taste buds in their
mouths, fins, and skin. This
polka-dot grouper swims head
down while prowling for food.
Opening
to gills
Muted color
camouflages fish
in the open ocean.
Shapes and
sizes of scales
vary in different fish.
Fish often
have excellent
eyesight.
All fish have fins for swimming
and gills for breathing under
water. Fish also have their
own suits of armor! Most
are covered in overlapping scales
like tiles on a roof. Some just have
extra-tough skin. They are slimy so that
they can glide swiftly through water.
What is a fish?
Dogfish wiggle
from side to side. Lesser spotted dogfish
Fantastic fish
Fish can be weird and wonderful!
They vary in size from tiny sea
horses to giant manta rays. Some
have unusual shapes that help
them to hide or scare off predators.
Manta rays flap
with wide, winglike
fins and glide
through the water.
Gentle giants
The vast, flat bodies of manta rays blend
in with the mud and sand of the seabed.
Despite their size, manta rays are gentle
creatures. They eat mainly plankton.
Dragon of the sea
Leafy sea dragons live
in shallow, seaweedy
waters. Here, they
avoid predators by
looking like seaweed.
Their other name is
weedy sea dragons.
Puffed up
When in danger, porcupine
fish gulp down water and
swell up like balloons.
Now they are too large
and prickly for most
predators to swallow!
A puffed-up
porcupine fish
has raised spines.
Colorful ribbon
Ribbon eels can coil
themselves into crevices
that seem too small for
their long bodies. They
have sharp teeth for
seizing prey.
E
e
l
s
a
r
e
f
i
s
h
b
u
t
t
h
e
y
l
o
o
k
m
u
c
h
m
o
r
e
l
i
k
e
sn
akes!
Hidden on the seabed
Stonefish change color to blend in with
the seabed. They have spines on their
backs for protection. Each spine injects
a deadly poison if touched.
Prickly beauty
Lionfish have striped bodies
to warn away other fish.
Any predator that bites a
lionfish will be pierced by
poisonous spines.
A relaxed
porcupine fish with
spines lying flat.
11 10
Slimy, slippery skin
US 10-11 Fantastic fish.qxd 26/2/08 11:50 am Page 10
10
Fantastic fish
Fish can be weird and wonderful!
They vary in size from tiny sea
horses to giant manta rays. Some
have unusual shapes that help
them to hide or scare off predators.
Manta rays flap
with wide, winglike
fins and glide
through the water.
Gentle giants
The vast, flat bodies of manta rays blend
in with the mud and sand of the seabed.
Despite their size, manta rays are gentle
creatures. They eat mainly plankton.
Hidden on the seabed
Stonefish change color to blend in with
the seabed. They have spines on their
backs for protection. Each spine injects
a deadly poison if touched.
Prickly beauty
Lionfish have striped bodies
to warn away other fish.
Any predator that bites a
lionfish will be pierced by
poisonous spines.
Fantastic fish
Fish can be weird and wonderful!
They vary in size from tiny sea
horses to giant manta rays. Some
have unusual shapes that help
them to hide or scare off predators.
Manta rays flap
with wide, winglike
fins and glide
through the water.
Gentle giants
The vast, flat bodies of manta rays blend
in with the mud and sand of the seabed.
Despite their size, manta rays are gentle
creatures. They eat mainly plankton.
Dragon of the sea
Leafy sea dragons live
in shallow, seaweedy
waters. Here, they
avoid predators by
looking like seaweed.
Their other name is
weedy sea dragons.
Puffed up
When in danger, porcupine
fish gulp down water and
swell up like balloons.
Now they are too large
and prickly for most
predators to swallow!
A puffed-up
porcupine fish
has raised spines.
Colorful ribbon
Ribbon eels can coil
themselves into crevices
that seem too small for
their long bodies. They
have sharp teeth for
seizing prey.
E
e
l
s
a
r
e
f
i
s
h
b
u
t
t
h
e
y
l
o
o
k
m
u
c
h
m
o
r
e
l
i
k
e
sn
akes!
Hidden on the seabed
Stonefish change color to blend in with
the seabed. They have spines on their
backs for protection. Each spine injects
a deadly poison if touched.
Prickly beauty
Lionfish have striped bodies
to warn away other fish.
Any predator that bites a
lionfish will be pierced by
poisonous spines.
A relaxed
porcupine fish with
spines lying flat.
11 10
Slimy, slippery skin
US 10-11 Fantastic fish.qxd 26/2/08 11:50 am Page 10
11
Dragon of the sea
Leafy sea dragons live
in shallow, seaweedy
waters. Here, they
avoid predators by
looking like seaweed.
Their other name is
weedy sea dragons.
Puffed up
When in danger, porcupine
fish gulp down water and
swell up like balloons.
Now they are too large
and prickly for most
predators to swallow!
A puffed-up
porcupine fish
has raised spines.
Colorful ribbon
Ribbon eels can coil
themselves into crevices
that seem too small for
their long bodies. They
have sharp teeth for
seizing prey.
A relaxed
porcupine fish with
spines lying flat.
Slimy, slippery skin
E
e
l
s

a
r
e

f
i
s
h

b
u
t

t
h
e
y

l
o
o
k

m
u
c
h

m
o
r
e

l
i
k
e
snakes!
12
Ocean drifter
in warmer parts of the world, the
Portuguese man-of-war drifts on
the surface of the waves. it is
held up by a balloonlike float.
a relative of jellyfish, its other
name is blue jellyfish. it
catches fish in its long tentacles.
these shoot tiny stings into any
animal that touches them.
People are sometimes stung by
a Portuguese man-of-war. the
stings are not fatal to people,
but they are very painful!
Dinner delivered
Long tentacles trail
from the jellyfishs body.
When a small animal
swims into them, the
tentacles spear it with
poisonous stings.
adrift in the oceans
since prehistoric times,
jellyfish are more than
95% water. they have
no brains, bones, hearts, or eyes.
their stinging tentacles act like
fishing lines to catch prey.
Underwater umbrella
Jellyfish have soft bodies
called bells. the bell moves
in and out like an umbrella
opening and closing.
this drives the
jellyfish along.
Jellyfish
13
Jellyfish may look
like a parachute but
they are probably
traveling upward!
Ghostly glow
Many jellyfish are nearly
transparent. Some also
produce their own light,
so that they glow in dark
water. they may only do
this when disturbed.
Up, up, and away
Jellyfish are attracted
to light even though
they have no eyes.
they swim toward the
waters surface. this
keeps them within
range of food.
Jellyfish
invertebrate despite their
name, jellyfish are not fish.
they are invertebrates. an
invertebrate is an animal
without a backbone.
transparent a transparent
animal or object is one that
can be seen through.
G
l
o
w
i
n
g

j
e
l
l
y
f
i
s
h

r
ising to th
e

w
a
t
e
r

s

s
u
r
f
a
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o
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d
a
r
k

n
i
g
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t
s

h
a
v
e

b
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n

m
i
s
t
a
k
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n

f
o
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g
h
o
s
t
s
!
Fishy facts
14
Sharks are survivors! They
have lived in the worlds
oceans since prehistoric times.
The largest of all fish, they
have muscular bodies, good hearing,
and a keen sense of smell for
sniffing out food.
Underwater leopards
Leopard sharks are named for their
golden, spotted skin. This is good
camouflage on the seabed where they
search for their favorite food clams.
Spectacular sharks
Head is shaped
like a hammer.
Sleek and streamlined
A strong swimmer, the sandbar
shark slices through the ocean
at high speed. It swims vast
distances, traveling to warmer
seas as seasons change.
Weird and wonderful
Hammerhead sharks have
eyes at each end of their
unusual, wide heads. This
helps them to see more!
Hammerhead sharks like
to stick together. There
may be as many as 100
of them in a school.
Great whites have
more than 100
razor-sharp teeth.
Worlds scariest shark
Great whites are the largest carnivorous
fish. Seen as ferocious man-eaters, they
have been overhunted and are now
rare. In fact, great whites do not hunt
humans. If they do bite people, they
usually spit them out!
Whales are the largest creatures in
the ocean. Like all mammals, they
breathe air. Whales take in air
through openings called blowholes
on their heads. There are two types
of whales baleen whales and
toothed whales.
Splashing about
Humpback whales have
longer flippers than other
whales. They slap their
flippers on the water to
make loud splashes. This
is called flippering!
Swimming lesson
A baby whale is called a calf.
Humpback calves swim close
to their mothers. It takes time
for the calf to become a
strong swimmer.
Ocean giants

The blue whale is not only

the largest whale, but the
largest animal of all time.

The biggest dinosaur was

only about a quarter of the
weight of a blue whale.
Killer teeth
Killer whales are toothed whales.
Small, sharp teeth allow them to
grab fish and other prey. Killer
whales are also called orcas. They
live in social groups called pods.
What is a baleen whale?
Humpback whales are baleen
whales. Instead of teeth, they have
baleen plates. They gulp water and
sieve it out through the baleen,
trapping tiny animals.
Barnacles are small
animals with shell-like
plates. They often make
their homes on whales.
Blue whale
Human
Killer whale
L
e
a
p
in
g

o
u
t

o
f

t
h
e
water is ca
lled breaching.
The big blue
18
Dolphins are small, toothed whales. Intelligent
and curious, they are friendly toward people.
They have even rescued shipwreck survivors
and helped them back to shore! Speedy
swimmers, dolphins race along with long, low leaps.
This is called porpoising.
Dolphin talk
Using a language of clicks and squeaks, pods of
dolphins find their way around the ocean. They
organize fish hunts by sending messages to each
other. To stun fish they may make very loud noises!
Playful dolphins
D
o
l
p
h
i
n
s

s
t
r
o
k
e

e
a
c
h

o
t
h
e
r

w
i
t
h
t
h
e
ir flippers to make frien
d
s.
19
Ocean acrobats
Dolphins can leap high out of the
water. They may do this to avoid
predators or to herd fish by
making loud splashes. Males
sometimes leap to impress females.
Streamlined body
slices through the water.
Curved flippers help
dolphins to steer and
turn around.
Bringing up baby
Dolphins give birth to one calf at a time.
The calf drinks its mothers milk and grows
quickly. Other dolphins may babysit the
calf while its mother hunts for fish.

Dolphins live in groups called pods.
These may join together to form a herd.

There are dolphins in all the worlds

oceans, except for icy, polar waters.

If a dolphin is sick or injured, other

dolphins may support it with their bodies
so that its blowhole is above the surface.
Fishy facts
The long snout
is called a beak.
20
Funny face
Like manatees, this
dugong has no front
teeth! Its teeth grow
only along the sides of its
mouth. Flippers steer and
scoop up food.
Dugongs and
manatees lived in
the oceans during
the age of the
dinosaurs.
In warm, shallow waters, large
sea mammals called dugongs and
manatees live a peaceful life. They
have no natural enemies, eat only
plants, and never fight.
Gentle sea cows
Underwater lawnmower
Dugongs and manatees are
the only vegetarian sea
mammals. They swim
slowly, grazing on
sea grass.
Noises in the night
Dugongs relax during the day and
spend most of the night eating. Like
manatees, they are noisy eaters.
There are loud sounds of chomping
teeth and flapping lips!
Sea grass beds
are good feeding
grounds.
Dugongs often dig
down into the sand
to eat sea grass roots.
Manatees
sometimes have
algae growing
on their backs.
21
Motherly love
Dugongs and manatees give birth to
only one calf every three to five years.
The newborn calf rises to the surface
immediately for its first breath of air. It
stays with its mother for up to two years,
clinging to her or resting on her back.
Calf stays close
to its mother.

Dugongs have a tail that is

pointed at the ends. Manatees
have a paddle-shaped tail.

On meeting, sea cows grab

each others flippers then put
their mouths together to kiss.

Manatees and dugongs can

live for as long as 60 years.
Fishy facts
In the clouds
A small bird, the
Arctic tern flies
longer distances than any
other bird. It spends most
of its life in the air!
Some seabirds live along the
shore. Others fly far out to sea.
All return to the shore to nest.
Many nest in groups called
colonies. They often choose cliffs where
eggs and chicks are safe from predators.
22
Soaring seabirds
Long-distance flights
Albatrosses fly for weeks at a
time. With wings outstretched,
they glide through the air. They
are carried by the wind and
hardly need to bother to flap!
Wing is long
and strong.
Sea parrots
Colorful beaks
give puffins the
nickname parrots
of the sea. Large
beaks are useful
for grabbing lots
of sand eels!
Birds with big appetites
Pelicans fly or swim in search of
a fishy meal. When they spot fish,
they dive down after them. They
have stretchy beaks for scooping
up lots of fish in one go.
Guillemots are mainly
black with white
chests and bellies.
Flying underwater
Guillemots fly in long lines
of up to 40 or more birds.
They dive deep into the sea
to snap up fish. Beating their
wings, they fly through the
water. Between dives, they
rest and preen themselves.
Many seabirds spot
fish from the sky
then dive down to
grab them.
Fishy facts

Seabirds have special

features for life in the water,
like webbed feet for swimming.

Water slides off their oily

feathers so that they stay dry.

Gannets and some other

seabirds have extrastrong
skulls. This allows them to hit
the water fast in pursuit of prey.
Long-distance swimmers
Female green turtles travel to the
place where they were born to lay
their eggs, then swim back again
across the open ocean. With no
landmarks to follow, the turtles
probably find their way by the
positions of the Sun and the Moon.
Fishy facts

Californian gray whales feed

in the Arctic Ocean then travel
to warmer waters to breed.

Arctic terns fly further than

other seabirds, from the North
Pole to the South Pole and back.

Barnacles take long-distance

rides on turtles and whales.
Lobster line up
To escape storms, spiny lobsters walk along the
seabed to calmer waters. They march head to tail.
This makes it hard for predators to pick out one.
25
Eels at sea
Eels travel from lakes and
rivers to breed at sea. The
young eels (elvers) then
return to freshwater.
Broad flippers are
used for rowing
themselves along.
Turtles surface to
breathe air through
their nostrils.
Some sea creatures make amazing
journeys, crisscrossing the oceans.
They travel to find breeding grounds,
food, or safety. This is called migration.
Ocean travelers
Fast hunters, octopuses and
squid have long arms called
tentacles for seizing prey.
They swim at high speed by
squirting jets of water from their baglike
bodies. The force drives them along.
This is called jet propulsion.
O
c
t
o
p
u
s
e
s are in
tell
i
g
e
n
t

w
i
t
h

l
a
r
g
e

b
rains.
Octopuses and squid
Sucker-studded tentacles
Octopuses feel and taste with their
eight tentacles. Each tentacle has
rows of suckers. The suckers help
them to grip prey and fasten
themselves to the seabed.
Ink attack!
To escape predators, octopuses and
squid have a trick up their sleeves.
They squirt out a cloud of ink.
Hidden in murky water, they
make a getaway.
Nighttime prowler
In the daytime, octopuses hide
alone in rocky dens. At night
they come out to hunt. They
try to keep a tentacle on the
seabed. If threatened, they
can pull themselves
back fast.
Speedy retreat
When in danger, octopuses jet off.
Their bodies form a torpedolike
shape to slice through water.
Like squid, they can outswim
most predators.
27
Tentacles trail out
behind the body as
the octopus takes off.
Shimmering squid
Many squid can produce their own light.
They use this light display to signal to each
other or lure prey. Fire squid can even flash
white, blue, yellow, and red light.
Different sea creatures may live together
in a variety of fascinating ways. Often
the arrangement suits both creatures,
but sometimes only one benefits.
28
Living together
Cleaning service
Fish called cleaner wrasse set up
cleaning stations in coral reefs. They
eat parasites stuck to larger fish. Their
customers wait in line. Even natural
enemies put aside their differences!
Brightly colored
clown fish cannot
hide easily.
Perfect partnership
Clown fish escape danger
by darting into sea
anemones. A coat of slime
protects the fish and
predators dare not follow.
A cleaner wrasse
cleans the teeth
of a coral trout.
Sea anemones
have poisonous
tentacles.
Clown fishs color and
pattern warn that the sea
anemone is poisonous, so
both creatures benefit.
Boxing gloves
Boxer crabs carry anemones
and wave the stinging tentacles
at predators. Anemones eat
pieces of food the crabs drop.
29
Sprinq cleuninq for shells
Surqeonfish such os tonqs feed
on olqoe. They sometimes nibble
olqoe qrowinq on turtles' shells.
Turtles ore qlod to be cleoned up'
Jcns !c+.
s!c:j :..:! I.:
nI!!IIn cIc..
Food for free
Remoro fish ottoch themselves
to lorqer fish like shorks. They
eot froqments of food t hot drop
from their host's mouth.
F.n.:c IIs!
Angling for fish
Angler fish have a long
fishing-rod fin with a light
at the end. Small fish think
that this is food. Lured
toward it, they swim into the
angler fishs open jaws.
No light reaches as far down as
the oceans midnight zone. Here,
strange creatures live in freezing
cold and total darkness.
They are small so they can survive
on little food.
30
Down in the depths
Fearsome hunter
The viper fish swims with
its jaws open. It catches
fish with its extra-long,
sharp teeth.
Mouth has
more than
350 lights.
Stretchy stomach
expands if the fish
lures in a big meal.
Low life
Parts of the ocean floor look
like the surface of the Moon.
Here, rattail fish dart in and
out of crevices. Its easy to
see how they got their name!
Ugly ogre
The gruesome looks of the
fangtooth explain its other
name, ogre fish. When a
fish or shrimp swims past,
the fangtooth sucks
them into its
gigantic mouth.
If you have seen a firefly sparkle on a
summers evening then you have
seen a creature that produces
its own light. For fish in the
dark depths of the ocean, the
light serves a purpose. It helps
them to find food or lure prey.
31
Shining like stars
A bladelike, silvery
body gives hatchet fish
their name. They have
light organs along
their bellies
and tails.
Daggerlike teeth
line the fangtooths
huge jaws.
ALL AgLoW
Large eye helps
the fish to spot
prey in the dark.
S
p
o
n
g
e
s

c
a
n
g
ro
w
so big that a person c
o
u
l
d

h
a
v
e

a

b
a
t
h

i
n

o
n
e
!
Life on the seabed
A few seabed animals can survive along the lower
seashore. Most live on the deeper seabed where
they are always underwater. These creatures often
look like plants but they are really animals.
Seabed chimneys
Sponges come in
strange shapes and
many colors. They
feed by capturing
plankton as they
pump water through
their bodies.
Sponges attach
themselves to
the seabed.
Hungry starfish
Starfish eat mussels and
clams, using the suckers on
their feet to pull the shells
apart. Then they push
their stomachs into
the gap and eat up
their prey.
In the slow lane
Sea cucumbers crawl
along the seabed at a
snails pace. They suck
in food that sticks to
their slimy tentacles.
33
S
p
o
n
g
e
s

c
a
n
g
ro
w
so big that a person c
o
u
l
d

h
a
v
e

a

b
a
t
h

i
n

o
n
e
!
Starring role
Brittle stars have brittle, easily broken
arms. This does not matter because they
can grow new ones! Like starfish, brittle
stars do not have a brain.
Pair of tentacles
helps sea slugs
seek out food.
This common
starfish has
12 arms.
Tentacles can
be pulled back
inside the body.
Row of feet
Colorful character
This sea slug is called a
Spanish shawl because it
appears to have an orange
fringe. The vivid colors of sea
slugs warn predators that they
are poisonous and taste awful.
Spines cover
body and arms.
Fishy facts

Many seabed animals feel

or grasp things with flexible
body parts called tentacles.

The other name for sea

slugs is nudibranches.

Sea slugs eat anemones,

corals, sponges, and sometimes
even other sea slugs!
Fishy facts

Coral reefs grow in tropical

oceans where sea temperature
is never below 68F (20C).

Australias Great Barrier

Reef is so large that it can be
seen from space.

New coral reefs will often

grow on the seabed wrecks
of ships and aircraft.
Organ
pipes
A new layer
of coral grows from
each tiny pipe of
organ-pipe coral.
Coral is built by tiny animals called
polyps. Each builds a chalky, cup-
shaped shelter to protect its soft body.
The reef spreads as young polyps build
new shelters on old ones. Different corals form
a variety of amazing shapes and colors.
C
o
l
o
r
f
u
l

c
o
r
a
l

r
e
e
f
s

l
o
o
k

l
i
k
e

u
n
d
e
r
w
ater g
a
r
d
e
n
s
.
Coral reefs
Rose coral
Corals have names
that tell you how
they look. This
coral is like a rose.
Scallops often
make their home
in rose coral.
Sea fans
The treelike forms
of these corals
sometimes join up in
the shape of a fan.
Brain coral
Brain coral is a grayish
color and looks like
a human brain!
Coral reefs teem in the
daytime with beautiful
and bizarre creatures.
At night, many retreat
into caves to rest. Now a new
party begins! Different fish leave
their hideouts to look for food.
Life in a coral reef
Underwater angels
With their slim bodies, emperor
angelfish can dart in and out of
gaps in the coral. Angelfish
partners stay together for life.
SeA SerpeNt StorieS
tales of man-eating sea serpents once
made people wary of eels. today,
divers still tell stories of moray eels
gripping them in their toothy jaws.
Divers mostly have only
themselves to blame. Some poke
their hands into coral-reef caves.
this can give an eel resting at
home an unwelcome surprise!
Slippery as an eel
Moray eels have slimy, snakelike
bodies. they slither into caves and
crevices to hide during the day.
their pointed faces peer out from
the coral. At night, they hunt
for food.
A twist of the tail
to anchor themselves, sea
horses twist their tails
around coral. if an
enemy appears, they
change color
to match their
surrounding.
Lettuce leaf
Like other sea
slugs, lettuce
slugs are related
to garden snails.
these frilly slugs
may look like salad, but
their skin produces a slime
that tastes revolting.
Coral reefs
offe r many
hiding places
for small fish
escaping from
larger predators.
House-hunting hermits
Hermit crabs often make their
homes inside the empty shells
of other animals. they may
also move into small caves in
the coral reef.
Sea horses are
among the
tiniest fish in
a coral reef.
The seas around the
North and South poles
are partly frozen. Animals
that live here have a
thick layer of fat, called blubber.
This helps to keep them warm.
Icy waters
Pups are
completely
covered in
white fur.
Coming up for air
Like all mammals, seals breathe
air. They gnaw at sea ice with
their sharp teeth to keep open
air holes for breathing.
Snow-white seal pups
Harp seal pups are born with white fur that camouflages
them on the ice. This is useful because they often wait
alone for their mothers to return from feeding.
Noisy walruses
Walruses live in large
groups around the North
Pole. These noisy animals
bark, growl, and whistle
to each other. They
have two long front
teeth called tusks.
A walruss tusks can grow
up to 3ft (1m) long.
Polar bears have
black skin under
their white fur.
Swimming under ice
Polar bears hunt prey in icy Arctic
seas. Their slightly webbed toes
help them to swim. They paddle
with their front legs and steer with
their hind ones. In the snow,
creamy fur is perfect camouflage.
Fishy facts

Harp seal pups drink their

mothers milk for about two
weeks, then find their own food.

Growing up to 10ft (3m)

high, polar bears are nearly
twice as tall as a person.

Polar bears build snow dens

to shelter their cubs. They
always have twins!
Penguin party
All penguins live south of the Earths
equator. They have thick fat called
blubber to keep them warm in icy
waters. Shiny, waterproof feathers
prevent their skin from getting wet.
They make deep dives to catch fish.
Daring divers
Adlie penguins are
the most common
South Pole penguins.
They dive into the
icy water to hunt
for fish and squid.
Swimming at high
speed, they can
launch themselves
from the water
onto the shore.
Streamlined
shape slices
through water.
Flipperlike wing
rows penguin along
underwater.
Webbed foot
has claws.
Making a splash
Penguins are speedy swimmers,
but they have no defense against
predators. In water, their dark
backs and light-colored bellies
act as camouflage. This is
known as countershading.
Fishy facts

Penguins can dive down

to about 870ft (290m), taking
them into the twilight zone.

The emperor penguin is

the largest penguin of all.

Many penguins live in the

coldest, wi ndiest place in the
world the South Pole.
Nursery on the ice
Emperor penguin chicks
and adults huddle together
in groups of up to 5,000
birds. It is much warmer
inside the huddle than
outside it. Penguins move
around slowly, so that those
on the outside have a turn
in the middle to warm up!
Perfect parent
After laying eggs, female king penguins
return to the sea. Through the icy
winter, the males keep the eggs warm
on their feet. When the chicks hatch,
their mothers reappear to feed them.
Dinner is served
Penguin parents feed their chicks fishy
snacks until the chicks can hunt for
themselves. Emperor penguin chicks have
gray, fluffy feathers. Later, they grow black
and white feathers like their parents.
Penguins are birds but they
cannot fly. They waddle slowly on
land but swim swiftly in the sea.
Roaring sea lions
Sea lions get their name from
roaring like lions. They also bark
and honk. In the kelp, they search
for clams, crabs, fish, and lobsters
to eat. They are fast swimmers,
with winglike front flippers.
Super snacks
Kelp attracts schools of small
fish. This does not go unnoticed
by harbor seals. They can scoop
up a good meal, then relax in
the canopy of kelp leaves near
the waters surface.
Kelp is a type
of giant seaweed,
and the largest of
all ocean plants.
Kingdom of kelp
Hidden under the waves, kelp forests provide food
and shelter for a wealth of creatures. A towering kelp
plant is like a high-rise apartment, providing homes
for sea creatures at every level.
Hanging out in hammocks
Sea otters lie in hammocks of kelp. Their
waterproof fur is so thick that their skin
never gets wet! They use their stomachs
as a table for laying out meals.
Some fish
graze on the
kelp, while
others hunt
for prey.
Shady shark
Horn sharks hunt
for sea urchins
and shellfish at
night. Their eyes
are sensitive to
light, so they sleep
during the day in
the shade of large
kelp leaves.
Forest flame
Flame-colored
garibaldis have small
territories in the kelp.
If a neighbor gets too
close, the garibaldis
confront each other
face to face. They wave
their tails furiously.
Kelp is attached to
the seabed by rootlike
anchors called holdfasts.
44
Scuba divers study
fish and the seabed
in shallow waters.
Scuba diving
Scuba (Self-Contained
Under-water Breathing
Apparatus) allows divers to
breathe from tanks of air
strapped to their backs.
Exploring under water
Oceans have yet to be fully explored.
They still have secrets to reveal.
To survive under water, divers
need special clothing and
equipment. Today, they can also
travel in under water machines
called submersibles.
BUBBlE TrOUBlE
Scuba equipment allows divers
to study shallow-water fish in
the wild. The problem is that
fish like hammerhead sharks
are sensitive to the noise
made by air bubbles. They may
be so scared that they swim away.
45
Diving machines
Submersibles are the only
way to explore the deep
ocean. In them, divers
have discovered undersea
life never seen before.
They are protected from
the huge pressure of
water that occurs at low
levels. The submersible
Nautile can dive to nearly
20,000ft (6,000m).
Lights for
video camera
Pilot sits in a metal
cabin with a thick,
flexible glass window.
Submersible
is powered to
move forward.
Diver studying
a shipwreck on
the seabed.
Seabed wrecks
Shipwrecks come to rest on
the seabed. Scuba divers
can explore them in shallow
seas. Here, algae and
sometimes coral grow on
the wrecks as time passes.
Disaster in the Atlantic
In 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on
its first-ever voyage. The advent of submersibles
meant that the wreck could finally be explored.
Nautile took nearly two hours to reach it.
Glossary
Oxygen a gas that is found in
both air and water. All living
things need oxygen to breathe.
Parasite an animal that lives
in, or on, another animal.
A parasite benefits at the
expense of the other animal.
Plankton tiny plants and
animals that live in the ocean.
They are food for many other,
larger sea creatures.
Polar region the area near the
North Pole or the South Pole.
Predator an animal that
hunts other animals for food.
Prey an animal that is hunted
by other animals for food.
Scale a small, thin plate.
Overlapping scales protect
the skin of fish and reptiles.
Sea smaller areas of saltwater
are called seas. Larger areas
of saltwater are called oceans.
Species a group of animals
or plants made up of related
individuals who are able
to produce young with
one another.
Seashore the land along
the edge of seas and oceans.
Streamlined a smooth shape
that allows some sea creatures
to travel faster.
Submersible a diving machine
for exploring the deep ocean.
Tentacles long feelers, like
bendable arms, for grasping.
Territory an area defended by
an animal, or animals, against
others of its kind.
Algae plants that live in water.
They have no roots, stems, or
leaves. Seaweed is a sea algae.
Animal an animal is any
living creature that is not a
plant. For example, dolphins,
fish, and starfish are animals.
Antarctic the cold area
around the South Pole, which
includes the southern parts of
the Atlantic, Indian, and
Pacific oceans.
Arctic the cold area around
the North Pole, which includes
the Arctic Ocean.
Baleen baleen is made of
the same material as human
fingernails. Some whales have
baleen plates instead of teeth.
Blubber a thick layer of fat
that keeps polar animals and
whales warm in cold waters.
Breeding when animals
give birth to young.
Camouflage for animals, this
is usually skin coloring that
makes them look the same
as their surroundings. They are
then less likely to be attacked.
Canopy the topmost layers of
leaves in a forest. Kelp forests
have a canopy.
Carnivore an animal that eats
the flesh of another animal.
Coast the border of the land
where it meets the sea.
Continental shelf the shallow
part of the seabed around land
that ends in a steep slope to
the ocean floor.
Countershading this is the
effect of having a darker back
and paler belly. From above,
a dark back blends in with the
darkness of the deep sea. From
below, a pale belly blends in
with the light from the sky.
Crustacean a type of animal
with jointed limbs. Crabs,
lobsters, and shrimp are
examples of crustaceans.
Echinoderms animals with
spiny skins and tubed feet. Sea
cucumbers, sea urchins, and
starfish are echinoderms.
Equator an imaginary line
around Earth that is equally
distant from the North and
the South poles.
Gills the part of a fishs
body that absorbs oxygen
from water so that fish can
breathe under water.
Holdfast the rootlike
anchors attached to kelp.
Invertebrate an animal
without a backbone.
Kelp a type of giant seaweed.
Luminous this describes the
effect of giving off light. Some
fish have light organs that
make them luminous.
Mammal a warm-blooded
animal that breathes oxygen
from the air. Female
mammals produce milk
to feed their young.
Mollusc animals that have
a soft body and no backbone.
Clams, octopuses, sea slugs,
and squid are molluscs.
Oceanography the study
of the oceans is called
oceanography.
46
47
Animal alphabet
Every animal pictured in this book is listed here, along with
its page number and the parts of the ocean in which it lives.
Albatross 22
A seabird with a huge
wingspan that spends most of
its life over the open ocean.
Angelfish 36
Marine angelfish live in coral
reefs, such as the Great
Barrier Reef off the coast
of Australia.
Angler fish 30
Deep-sea angler fish live in
the twilight and midnight
zones of the open ocean.
Arctic tern 22, 24
A seabird that flies huge
distances to migrate. It
breeds in the Arctic summer,
then flies south to the
Antarctic to avoid the
northern winter.
Boxer crab 28
A crab that lives in coral
reefs, in the tropical seas
between the Indian and
Pacific oceans.
Brittle star 33
An echinoderm that lives
on the seabed in the Indian
and Pacific oceans.
Cleaner wrasse 28
Fish that are widespread
through the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, and the
Red Sea.
Clown fish 28
Fish that live in coral reefs
among the stinging tentacles
of anemones.
Coral 5, 34-37, 45
A tiny animal that lives in
huge colonies in shallow,
tropical seas.
Coral trout 28
Fish that live in the
Great Barrier Reef.
Dolphin 18-19
A mammal that lives mainly
in the oceans sunlit zone.
Dugong 20-21
A mammal that lives
in the warm, shallow
waters of the Pacific and
India oceans.
Eel, European 25
moray 36, 37
ribbon 11
Fish that usually hide in holes
in coral reefs during the day
and come out to hunt at
night.
Fangtooth 5, 31
Fish that live in the twilight
and midnight zones of
tropical and temperate seas.
Garibaldi fish 43
Fish that live on the seabed
and on kelp forest floors off
the coast of California.
Guillemot 23
A seabird that is known as
the Northern Penguin. It
lives along the shore but
dives down to the seabed.
Hatchet fish 5, 31
Fish that live in the twilight
and midnight zones of the
open ocean.
Hermit crab 37
A crab that lives on the
ocean floor.
Jellyfish 12-13
A group of invertebrates
that lives in all zones of
the open ocean as well
as along the shore.
Leafy sea dragon 11
A relative of sea horses that
lives in cool, rocky reefs off
the south and west coasts
of Australia.
Lesserspotted dogfish 9
A relative of sharks that
lives along the shore in
the oceans sunlit zone.
Lettuce slug 36
A species of sea slug that
lives in coral reefs.
Lionfish 10
A coral-reef fish.
Manatee 20-21
A mammal that lives in
warm, shallow waters along
the coast, rarely swimming
into the open ocean.
Manta ray 10
Relatives of sharks, manta
rays live in tropical seas
all over the world.
Octopus 4, 26-27
Molluscs that live in all
ocean zones.
Pelican 22
A seabird that lives along
coastlines.
Penguin, Adlie 40
emperor 40-41
king 41
A seabird that lives in
the Antarctic.
Plankton 7, 32
Tiny animals that live
on or near the surface
of all oceans.
Polar bear 38-39
A species of bear with
a whitish coat that lives
in the Arctic.
Polka-dot grouper 9
Fish that live in the sunlit
zone of warm seas.
Porcupine fish 11
Fish that live around coral
reefs in the sunlit zone of seas.
Puffin 22
A seabird that lives
along coastlines.
Rattail fish 30
Fish with ratlike tails that
live near the seabed.
Remora fish 29
Fish that are parasites
and travel with sharks.
Saupe 8
Fish that live in the oceans
sunlit zone.
Sea anemone 28
Relative of jellyfish that
lives in coral reefs.
Sea cucumber 33
An echinoderm that lives
on the ocean floor.
Sea horse 37
Small fish that live in shallow
temperate and tropical seas.
Sea lion 42
A mammal that is widespread
along coastlines, particularly
off the Pacific Ocean.
Seal, harbor 42
harp 38-39
A mammal that lives in
the sunlit zone of oceans
and seas near the shore.
Sea otter 43
A mammal that lives on
rocky Pacific Ocean coasts.
Sea slug 33
A mollusc that lives on
the ocean floor.
Sea sponge 32
A sponge that lives in
deep and shallow seas.
Shark, great white 15
hammerhead 14, 44
horn 43
leopard 14
sandbar 14
Fish that live in the oceans
sunlit zone. (Horn sharks
live in kelp and caves
on
the seabed.)
Spiny lobster 25
A crustacean that lives
in caves and crevices on
rocky reefs in the western-
Atlantic Ocean, from Brazil
to Bermuda.
Squid 4, 26-27
Relatives of cuttlefish and
octopuses that live in all
ocean zones.
Starfish 33
An echinoderm that lives
on the seabed and shore.
Stonefish 10
Fish that live in shallow,
tropical seas of the Indian
and Pacific oceans.
Surgeonfish 29
Coral-reef fish.
Turtles, green 6, 24-25, 29
Plant-eating reptiles that
live in warm waters of the
Atlantic, Indian, and
Pacific oceans.
Viper fish 30
Fish that live in the oceans
twilight and midnight zones.
Walrus 38
A mammal that lives in
the Arctic.
Whale, blue, 7, 17
humpback, 16-17
killer, 17
A mammal that lives
in the open ocean.
abyss, 5
algae, 20, 45
Arctic Ocean, 5, 39
Atlantic Ocean, 5
baleen whales, 16-17
barnacles, 17, 24
birds, 6, 22-23
blowholes, 7, 16, 19
blubber, 38, 40
breathing, 6-7, 9, 16,
38, 44
camouflage, 9, 14,
38-39, 40
colonies,
seabirds, 22
coral reefs, 34, 37, 45
crabs, 28, 37
dinosaurs, 17
diving, 44-45
Earth, 6-7
eggs, 24, 41
exploration, 44-45
feathers, 40-41
fins, 9
fish, 8, 11
flippers, 18-21, 25
fur, 38, 43
sea serpents, 36
seabed, 5, 10, 32-33
seas, 4, 7
seaweed, 42-43
shipwrecks, 34, 45
South Pole, 24, 38, 40
submersibles, 44-45
suckers, 26, 33
Sun, 24
sunlight, 4-5, 30
sunlit zone, 4
swimming, 9, 40
taste buds, 9
tentacles, 12, 26-27,
33
Titanic, 45
toothed wales, 16
travelers, 7, 24-25
trenches, 5
tusks,
walruses, 38
twilight zone, 4, 30-31
waves, 7
whales, 7, 16-17, 24
winds, 7
wrecks, 34, 45
zones, 4-5
Index
Acknowledgments
Dorling Kindersley would like to thank: Hilary Bird for compiling
the index, Emily Bolam for original artwork, Penelope York for
editorial assistance, and Jon Hughes for additional design work.
Picture credits:
(Key: a = above; b = below; c = center; l = left; r = right; t = top)
Dorling Kindersley would like to thank the following for their kind
permission to reproduce their photographs / images:
Bruce Coleman Ltd: 6c, 11bc; Andrew Purcell 8c, 9r; Charles and
Sandra Hood 12r, 43bc; Dr Eckart Pott 41bl; Dr Frieder Sauer 12bl;
Fred Bruemmer 38c; Gordon Langsbury 22tr; Hans Reinhard 41br; Jeff
Foott 33br, 42c; Joe Mcdonald 6tl; John Cancalosi 22bl; Johnny
Johnson 22ac; Mark Carwardine 17tl; Mark Cawardine 7br; Pacific
Stock 4c, 14tc, 14br, 14b, 14l, 15c, 16b, 16t, 26c, 27ac, 32t, 33cr, 42br,
44c, 46c; Steven C Kaufman 38br. DK Picture Library: Frank
Greenaway 14cl; Jerry Young 48tr. Robert Harding Picture Library:
John Warden 39c. N.H.P.A.: 13cl; Bill Wood 28tl; Norbert Wu 29tl;
gannets, 23
gills, 9
Great Barrier Reef, 34
gulls, 6
ice, 38-39
icebergs, 45
Indian Ocean, 5
ink, 27
invertebrates, 13
jet propulsion, 26
kelp, 5, 42-43
light, 4-5, 13, 27,
30-31
mammals, 7, 16, 20-21
midnight zone, 5
migration, 24-25
Moon, 24
Nautile, 45
nests,
seabirds, 22
North Pole, 24, 38-39
octopuses, 4, 26-27
oxygen, 9
Pacific Ocean, 5, 6
parasites, 28-29
pods,
dolphins, 19
poisons, 10, 12, 28
polar regions, 38-39
polyps, 35
porpoising,
dolphins, 18
predators, 10-11,
27, 28
Red Sea, 7
reefs, 34, 37
salty water, 7
scales, 9
schools of fish, 4, 8, 42
scuba diving, 44-45
sea anemones, 28
sea cows, 20-21
sea grass, 20
Robert Wu 30tl. Oxford Scientific Films: David B. Fleetham 13tr,
20cl; Doug Allan 23c; Herb Segars 12tl; Howard Hall 12br, 13t, 18c,
25br; Konrad Wothe 19tr; Laurence Gould 45c; Paul Kay 32b; Peter
Parks 30clb; Tamy Peluso 27br; Tobias Bernhard 20cr. Pictor
International: 4l. Planet Earth Pictures: 34c, 35bc, 35r, 36c, 37r; A.
Kerstitch 33tl; Ashley J. Boyd 37b; David Seiferi 18bl; Doug Perrine
29c; Gary Bell 2l, 3r, 28bl; Mark Conlin 20b; Norbert Wu 31bc, 43ac;
Pieter Folkens 38tr; Tom Walker 17tr. Science Photo Library: Art
Wolfe 40c, 41tr; Douglas Faulkner 21c; F.S. Westmorland 1c.
Southampton Oceanography Centre: 30b. gettyone stone: George
Lepp 22br. Telegraph Colour Library: 10c.
Jacket: Bruce Coleman Ltd: Pacific Stock 10000bl. Oxford Scientific
Films: Howard Hall 10001c; Mark Webster 10000br.
Useful website addresses:
EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/ ocean; www.aqua.org;
www.underwater.com.au; www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/