9 animals that live in water: Pictures, examples, and more
A water animal is a vertebrate or invertebrate animal that lives in water for a certain time or all of its life. Many insects, such as mosquitoes, dragonflies, and caddisflies, begin their life cycle as aquatic larvae before becoming winged adults. Check out interesting animals that live in water.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Aquatic animals live in diverse habitats such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, each supporting different species adapted to those environments.
- They have special adaptations for survival, including gills for breathing underwater, fins for swimming, streamlined bodies, or the ability to hold their breath for long periods.
- There is a wide diversity of aquatic life, ranging from tiny plankton and fish to large mammals such as whales and dolphins.
Top 9 animals that live in water
Water covers over 70% of the Earth's surface, making it home to an incredible variety of creatures. From deep oceans to rivers and lakes, aquatic animals have adapted in fascinating ways to survive and thrive in these environments. Below are photos of animals that live in water to help you explore their unique features. Some of these are fully aquatic, while others are semi-aquatic animals.
9. Hippo
Source: UGC
- Scientific name: Hippopotamus amphibius
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Hippopotamidae
Hippos love to swim, so only their heads peek out. These massive mammals cool their huge bodies in lakes, ponds, and rivers for up to 16 hours a day. Although these animals can hold their breath for about half an hour, they usually do not dive deep, leaving only the tops of their heads at the surface.
While hippos are not among the animals that live in water in the ocean, they are still well adapted to aquatic environments. At night, the hippopotamuses leave the water and go out on land in search of food. If they stay too long on dry land on a hot day, they quickly dehydrate.
8. Manatee
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Trichechus
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Trichechidae
Manatees like to swim slowly in shallow, warm coastal waters and rivers. For example, the Clear River in Florida. The large mammals weigh up to 1,300 pounds (600 kg), are born underwater, and remain there throughout their lives, though they must surface every few minutes to breathe.
Known as sea cows, they are insatiable herbivores, feeding on various species of seagrasses, weeds, and algae. Several different species of manatees live along the Atlantic coast of North and South America, the west coast of Africa, and the Amazon River.
7. The muskrat
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Ondatra zibethicus
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Cricetidae
The muskrat, or ondatra, is a frequent inhabitant of wetlands, swamps, and ponds, where it makes holes by digging tunnels in swampy banks. This large rodent has a body length of 30 cm and a flat tail almost as long as its body.
Ondatras are well adapted to water and begin to swim 10 days after birth. Perhaps the muskrat is best known for its developed communication skills; it exchanges information with others and frightens predators with its distinctive odour.
6. Baikal seals
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Pusa sibirica
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Phocidae
In the world, there is a large number of seals, but only one of their species is a real freshwater animal - this is the Baikal seal. These seals live in the lake of the same name in Russia; it is also the world's deepest lake.
Although new generations of Baikal seals are born every year, this species is not seriously threatened. The main threats are poaching and pollution from the paper and cellulose industries near the lake.
5. The Amazonian dolphin
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Inia geoffrensis
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Iniidae
To track down food (small fish and crustaceans) in the turbid waters of the river, the charismatic Amazonian dolphin uses echolocation. During annual migrations, these dolphins swim through flooded forests and hunt among the trees.
A bright hue (often pink or very pale) and the natural curiosity of this species of dolphins make them easy prey for poacher fishermen who illegally catch them to use as bait for catfish.
The population of these popular animals has significantly decreased in recent years. Among the locals inhabiting the shores of the Amazon, these dolphins have long been considered supernatural beings capable of taking on human form.
4. Capybara
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Caviidae
The largest rodent in the world, the capybara, grows to 4 feet long (130 cm) and weighs about 145 pounds (66 kg). These moisture-loving mammals reach this size by eating grass and water plants.
In most cases, these mammals live in watery terrain, to which they are physically well adapted. They have membranous paws, which help them swim well and stay underwater for 5 minutes or more.
Capybara live in Central and South America, inhabiting the lakes, rivers, and wetlands of Panama and south of Brazil. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of the capybara are located high on the head, so they remain on the surface when the animal is in the water.
These social mammals live in groups where the alpha male predominates, and they also protect their territory and food together. People hunt (and grow) capybara for their skin and meat, which is especially popular during Lent. Catholics in South America consider this animal an acceptable alternative to beef or pork.
3. Beaver
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Castor
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Castoridae
Beavers are environmental engineers, second only to humans in their ability to significantly alter the landscape to their liking. Using their powerful jaws and teeth, they cut down dozens of trees and build dams of wood and mud from 2 to 10 feet (1–3 meters) in height and more than 100 feet (30 meters) in length.
They are a great example often included when discussing 10 examples of aquatic animals, as they depend on water for survival and habitat creation.
2. River otter
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Lontra canadensis
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Mustelidae
This sleepy river otter is actually very playful. The hygrophilous mammal always willingly submerges under water and can gracefully move thanks to its webbed paws and paddle tail.
Otters have a special structure of ears and nostrils that close under the water, as well as water-repellent fur. Young otters begin swimming at 2 months old. River otters live in burrows along the edges of rivers or lakes in the immediate vicinity of the fish they feed on.
1. Platypus
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Ornithorhynchidae
The platypus is an incredible mixture of different animals: its fluffy trunk resembles an otter's body, a beak - a duck, and webbed paws and a paddle-like tail - beaver. Like all these animals, the platypus swims well and spends most of its life underwater.
Unlike otters and beavers, they lay eggs. Males of the platypus have poisonous stings on their hind legs. These animals build their holes at the very edge of the water and feed on underwater worms, molluscs, and insects.
What are animals that live in water called?
Animals that live in water are called aquatic animals. They include species that live in oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds, such as fish, whales, and crabs.
What are animals that live in water and on land called?
Animals that live both in water and on land are called amphibians or semi-aquatic animals. Examples include frogs, crocodiles, and turtles, which adapt to both environments.
What are plants and animals that live in water called?
Plants and animals that live in water are collectively known as aquatic organisms. This group includes algae, seaweed, fish, and other water-based life forms.
Can fish see at night?
Yes, many fish can see at night due to special adaptations in their eyes. Some species also rely on other senses, like detecting vibrations, to move and find food in low light.
Which animal can survive in water?
Many animals can survive in water, including fish, dolphins, and whales. Even some mammals like seals and hippos spend most of their time in water.
How many animals can live in water?
There is no exact number, but thousands of animal species live in water worldwide. Scientists estimate that aquatic life makes up a large portion of Earth's biodiversity.
Beneath the surface, a completely different world thrives, filled with unique flora and fauna in remarkable diversity. Despite years of research, scientists have only uncovered a fraction of the secrets of animals that live in water, and with advancing technology, new species continue to be discovered and named each year.
Legit.ng recently published an exciting post about creepy and scary creatures from your worst nightmares. The world is home to different species; many are sweet and cuddly, while others are scary and dangerous. Various factors can trigger nightmares, one of them being terrifying creatures.
Animals with features such as large teeth, claws, or intimidating body structures can trigger fear in humans. Discover some creepy and scary animals that will send shivers down your spine.
Source: Legit.ng
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a journalist with six years of experience. He has published sharply argued think pieces that live at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in January 2021. He has worked for The Standard and Nation Africa as an opinion columnist between 2018 and 2022. He is currently working on his first novel—a literary fiction that traces the life of a contemporary Kenyan artist. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com
