The Pacific Ocean is one of the most extensive on the planet, occupying a location of 62.46 thousand km – that’s a third of the planet’s area! So, as you can imagine, the types of animals that live in the Pacific Ocean are vast.
This sea is home to a wide variety of sea creatures, from huge animals to the tiniest marine critters, some of which are not seen anywhere else in the world!
In this article, we will take a deep dive into various animals that live in the Pacific Ocean (see also: Animals That Live In The Indian Ocean). So, if you’re interested, read on for more!
Octopus
Octopi are just one of the many, many creatures that live in the Pacific Ocean. Octopi are cephalopods that aren’t just being discovered in the Pacific Ocean but in seas all over the world!
The octopus has one of the largest brains compared to its body in terms of invertebrates. It also has a very complex and considerable nervous system.
Octopi vary in weight, but the biggest kind is the Titan Pacific Octopus, which can weigh up to 150 lbs! The octopus likes to eat a variety of foods, from clams and mussels to crabs, sea mollusks, and plankton.
Penguin
There are many penguin species that live in the Pacific Ocean including the Rockhopper Penguin, the Magellanic Penguin, the Galapagos Penguin, the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, The Crested Penguin, and the Humboldt Penguin.
Pacific Ocean penguins can vary in size, the smallest weighing only 2.2 lbs and measuring 15.7” in height, the largest weighing 75 lbs and measuring 43” in height.
Penguins have a diet that typically consists of fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, such as cuttlefish and squid.
It has been suggested by some that penguins will actually shallow stones so they will be less buoyant while hunting for food. What’s more, Yellow-Eyed Penguins will actually dive around 400 ft multiple times a day to search for their dinner!
Humpback Whale
Humpback whales are sea mammals that can usually be found in the North Pacific. Humpback whales have defining pectoral fins. Humpback whales can weigh up to 40 short tones and range anywhere between 39-52 ft.
Humpback whales are known for their displays and songs of courtship. They are seasonal mammals who migrate far, traveling up to 16,000 km every year with their migrations. Humpback whales typically live off krill, since they are baleen whales.
Killer Whale
Killer whales are considered to be the apex killer of the sea. They are also known as orcas. Killer whales are a part of the dolphin family and are said to be the largest among them.
Adult male orcas can grow up to 26 ft and can weigh between 8,000-12,000 lbs. Female killer whales can weigh anything between 3,000-8,000 lbs.
Killer whales are carnivores that will eat many other sea creatures, including seals, dugongs, sea otters, salmon, harbor porpoises, cephalopods, and more.
Dugong
Dugongs are huge animals that live in the hottest regions of the Western Pacific Ocean. They can grow between 8-10 ft and weigh between 510-1,100 lbs! Their average lifespan in the wild is around 70 years.
Dugongs are related to the manatee family and are very similar to them in terms of behavior and appearance. Both of these sea creatures are related to elephants.
Dugongs are herbivores that eat sea lawns on the ocean floor. They like to graze throughout the day and night, using their snouts to sniff out the sea lawn and then their hard mouths to chomp on it.
Dugongs have to resurface from water once every 6 minutes, typically breathing the open air by standing on their tail.
Manta Ray
Manta rays can be found in the Northern Pacific part of the Pacific Ocean. You can usually find them near reefs where it works to probe small fish and shellfish.
Adult manta rays can grow to 29.5 ft and typically weigh around 2,000 lbs. They are the largest type of rays in the entire world. Manta rays are very intelligent creatures and have the ability to recognize themselves in the mirror.
They are known as filter feeders and will swim with their mouths open to draw in krill and zooplankton.
Sea Otter
Sea otters primarily reside in the Northern Pacific Ocean. They can grow to 4ft in height and 65 lbs in weight. Sea otters like to stay in the ocean most of the time, but will sometimes come ashore if they want to rest.
Otters have webbed feet to help them survive in the ocean, and also have water-repellent fur to help them stay warm and dry.
Otters like to eat shellfish, crabs, octopi, fish, sea urchins, and squids. They are very clean creatures who like to wash after they eat, cleaning their paws, teeth, and coat.
Sea Turtle
Sea turtles like to reside in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They can grow anywhere between 2-7ft in length and can weigh anywhere between 70-1500 lbs!
Sea turtles must make lengthy migrations between their breeding and feeding areas. They like to mate in the ocean, and then go to the shore to lay their eggs on the beach.
After 60 days, the eggs will hatch and the baby sea turtles must make their way to the water at night – while avoiding crabs, seabirds, and other predators.
Different kinds of sea turtles eat different foods. For example, adult green sea turtles are herbivores and like to eat algae and seagrass off coral reefs. Meanwhile, adult loggerhead sea turtles are carnivores that enjoy eating conchs, whelks, and crabs.
Final Thoughts
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world and is home to many sea creatures big and small. Not only do these sea creatures vary in size, but they will vary in diet and habits, too!
For example, otters are small creatures who like to clean themselves after all meals, while dugongs are grazers that eat all day and night!
We hope this article taught you more about the wonderful aquatic creatures that live in the Pacific 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.
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