There are lots of animals that live in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean lies in between Africa, Asia, Antarctica and Australia. The Indian ocean is the third largest ocean in the world, however, it is very remote.
The Indian Ocean has a tropical climate and is home to lots of different natural resources. These include oil and gas fields.
As well as this, the ocean is home to many of the most incredible animals that we have on this planet. From giant tortoises to great white sharks, you won’t be disappointed by what you can find in the Indian Ocean!
Hydrothermal Vent Animals
Hydrothermal vents are very common in the Indian Ocean, and when they were discovered, so were a huge array of vent animals. These animals include things like mussels, gastropods and other animals.
The Hydrothermal vents that are home to these kinds of animals are a result of volcanic eruptions. While these vents are active, these animals will thrive.
In these vents, the animals can convert sulfur into energy and feed off bacteria. They can survive in darkness.
Endangered Species In The Indian Ocean
There are many different endangered species in the Indian Ocean. The habitat of many different animals in the Indian Ocean have been compromised because of the oil and gas drilling that occurs in the ocean.
Certain species of animals have really struggled in the Indian Ocean.
There are several different endangered species in the ocean. Dugongs, also known as sea cows, are particularly endangered. They are mammals who have flippers that look like paddles.
They mainly eat seagrass, which can sometimes be in very low supply. When this happens, they will eat marine algae instead.
These animals are endangered because pollution in the ocean has killed off the seagrass beds in lots of places. As well as this, Dugongs often die from getting trapped in fishing nets.
Turtles are also endangered in the Indian Ocean. The leatherback and loggerhead turtles are also endangered in the Indian Ocean.
The Leatherback turtles eat meat as they are carnivorous. They mainly feed on things like jellyfish. Loggerheads eat fish, shrimp and other animals.
Sharks And Dolphins
There are lots of different species of sharks in the Indian Ocean. These include the great white shark, the whale shark and the great hammerhead shark.
These sharks feed on other fish and smaller sharks. The great white shark feeds on seals, dolphins and lots of other animals.
A species of Bottlenose dolphin also live in the Indian Ocean. These dolphins feed on small fish.
You will also find lots of smaller species of shark in the Indian Ocean that are not as dangerous to humans and other animals. There are also species of porpoises in the Indian Ocean.
Bull Shark
The Bull Shark is a species of shark that is found in the Indian Ocean. It is found in shallow, warm waters along coasts and in rivers (Check out Animals That Live In Rivers). These sharks have very short snouts and they look very specific.
They are very aggressive animals and are the third biggest threat to humans that sharks pose. The tiger shark and the great white sharks are the most dangerous to humans.
Great Barracuda
The great barracuda is a species that is found in parts of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific ocean(see also: Animals That Live In The Pacific Ocean). They are very large fish and they are one of the biggest species of barracuda in the world.
This barracuda has a very powerful jaw and it is an elongated fish.
These fish are big hunters and they feed off other fish and shrimp. These fish often travel alone. This fish is not of any concern as they are very good hunters. They are known to attack humans, especially divers.
Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimps are very common in the Indian Ocean. They belong to the same group of species as crabs, lobsters, shrimp and crayfish.
Mantis shrimps range in color and are very impressive animals. They range from brown to vivid, bright colors.
These shrimp are most often found at the base of coral reefs. These shrimp can either be nocturnal or they can be active during the day.
Mantis shrimps can inflict painful wounds as they can cut your hand open if they are handled incorrectly.
They are often caught to be eaten by humans. These animals are often eaten in sushi and they can sometimes be eaten raw.
These shrimps are very interesting because they are the most important predators in many habitats. They are not very well understood because they are often hidden in the sea. They are not considered to be endangered.
These creatures are very large for their surroundings. They live very deep down in the ocean and they are a source of prey to animals such as killer whales and certain sharks.
Because these squid live very deep in the ocean, the exact number of these squid is not known. However, they are not thought to be endangered.
Giant Grouper
The giant grouper is a species that is part of the subfamily Epinephelinae. It is from the same family as sea bass and anthias.
Giant groupers are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. They are found mainly in shallow waters and they eat a lot of fish, including small sharks.
These fish travel on their own. They are endangered but are not critically endangered. The species is thought to be declining due to loss of habitat and overfishing.
Final Thoughts
The Indian Ocean is home to many different animals. There are some animals in the Indian Ocean that are endangered, and many that are not.
While some of these animals can be found in other parts of the world, lots of these animals are specific to the Indian Ocean.
Hi, I’m Olivia Kepner and I am a zookeeper here in San Diego. Since I was a young girl I have always been fascinated by animals and species across the globe.
I used to beg my parents to take me to our local zoo every single weekend. Well, I say local – it was more like a two hour drive away. But they took me as much as they could, allowing me to fall in love with the animals again and again.
