Dolphin
An intelligent marine mammal that breathes air through a blowhole.
Habitat: Open ocean and coast
Feature: Streamlined body
Dive into an underwater world
Sea Animal Names for Kids
Meet fascinating animals from coral reefs, rocky shores, the seabed and the open ocean. Look at each picture, learn the animal's name, and discover the features that help it live in water.
17 animalsLearn each name
HabitatsExplore ocean homes
FeaturesNotice adaptations
QuizTry 4 questions
Observe, compare, and care
What Are Sea Animals?
Sea animals live for all or part of their lives in salt water. Oceans contain many habitats, from sunny rock pools and coral reefs to cold, dark water far below the surface.
Not every sea animal is a fish. Dolphins, whales and sea lions are mammals that breathe air. Penguins are birds, sea turtles are reptiles, and octopuses are molluscs. Fish such as sharks and seahorses use gills to take oxygen from water.
We can help ocean wildlife: take litter home, use less single-use plastic, and watch animals without touching or disturbing them.
ObserveNotice fins, shells and tentacles
CompareGroup animals by body features
ProtectCare for seas and beaches
Choose a learning level
Start Small, Then Learn More
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1
Toddlers: Name and point
Look at the pictures, say each sea animal's name and copy a simple movement, such as swimming or scuttling.
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2
Young learners: Notice and match
Find fins, flippers, shells and tentacles, then match each animal to an ocean home.
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3
Ready for more: Compare and classify
Compare body features, sort animals into groups, learn new ocean words and try the quiz.
Sea Animal Picture Cards
Shark
A fish with a skeleton made of cartilage and rows of replaceable teeth.
Habitat: Oceans worldwide
Feature: Cartilage skeleton
Turtle
A marine reptile that breathes air and uses strong flippers to swim.
Habitat: Warm ocean and coast
Feature: Protective shell
Penguin
A flightless seabird whose flipper-like wings help it swim after food.
Habitat: Southern coasts and seas
Feature: Flipper-like wings
Whale
A marine mammal that must surface to breathe air through a blowhole.
Habitat: Open ocean
Feature: Powerful tail flukes
Seahorse
A small fish that swims upright and can grip plants with its curled tail.
Habitat: Seagrass and coral reef
Feature: Gripping tail
Sea Lion
A social marine mammal with strong flippers that can also move on land.
Habitat: Rocky coast and ocean
Feature: External ear flaps
Pufferfish
A fish that can take in water and expand its body when threatened.
Habitat: Warm seas and reefs
Feature: Inflating body
Starfish
A sea animal, also called a sea star, that usually has five arms and tube feet.
Habitat: Rock pools and seabed
Feature: Tube feet
Butterflyfish
A brightly patterned reef fish with a thin body that slips between corals.
Habitat: Tropical coral reef
Feature: Thin, colourful body
Jellyfish
A soft-bodied sea animal that pulses its bell and drifts with currents.
Habitat: Coast and open ocean
Feature: Trailing tentacles
Stingray
A flat-bodied fish that moves its broad fins like wings through the water.
Habitat: Shallow sea and seabed
Feature: Broad, flat fins
Swordfish
A large, fast fish recognised by the long, flat bill on its upper jaw.
Habitat: Open ocean
Feature: Sword-like bill
Octopus
A clever mollusc with eight arms, suction cups and excellent camouflage.
Habitat: Reef, rocks and seabed
Feature: Eight arms
Shrimp
A small crustacean with a hard outer covering, jointed legs and long antennae.
Habitat: Coast, reef and seabed
Feature: Long antennae
Crab
A crustacean with a hard shell, ten legs and a pair of gripping claws.
Habitat: Rock pool and seabed
Feature: Strong claws
Lobster
A large crustacean protected by a hard outer shell, with long antennae.
Habitat: Rocky seabed
Feature: Hard outer shell
Where Sea Animals Live
Different ocean habitats provide animals with food, shelter and space.
- Coral reef: butterflyfish, seahorse and octopus
- Open ocean: whale, dolphin, shark and swordfish
- Seabed and rock pools: crab, lobster and starfish
Features That Help
An adaptation is a feature or behaviour that helps an animal survive.
- Fins and flippers help animals steer through water.
- Shells protect turtles, crabs and lobsters.
- Camouflage helps an octopus blend into its surroundings.
Sort Animals Into Groups
Classifying animals encourages observation and early scientific thinking.
- Mammals: dolphin, whale and sea lion
- Fish: shark, seahorse, pufferfish and stingray
- Crustaceans: shrimp, crab and lobster
Quick learning check
Sea Animal Quiz for Kids
Question 1 of 4
Which sea animal has eight arms?
Which animal is a mammal that breathes through a blowhole?
Which crustacean has a pair of gripping claws?
Which marine reptile has a protective shell?
For grown-up helpers
Parent and Teacher Ideas
- Describe
Choose a picture and describe the animal without saying its name. Ask the child to identify it.
- Sort
Group the animals by fins, flippers, shells, tentacles or other body features.
- Move
Glide like a stingray, scuttle like a crab or pulse your arms like a jellyfish.
- Extend
Compare sea animals with wild animals, pet animals, and the bird guide.