Species Guide
Browse our collection of fascinating marine species — filter by type to find your favorites.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
The iconic clawed lobster of the North Atlantic, prized worldwide for its sweet, tender meat. These bottom-dwellers can live over 100 years and never stop growing.
Habitat
Rocky ocean floors of the North Atlantic, from Labrador to North Carolina
Size
Up to 64 cm (25 in) body length, typically 1-2 kg
Fun Fact
Lobsters were once considered poverty food and fed to prisoners. They taste with their feet and chew with their stomachs.
European Lobster
Homarus gammarus
A striking blue-black clawed lobster found across European waters. Highly valued in European cuisine, it is closely related to its American cousin but tends to be smaller.
Habitat
Rocky substrates from Norway to the Mediterranean, 0-150m depth
Size
Up to 60 cm (24 in), typically 1-1.5 kg
Fun Fact
European lobsters are naturally a stunning dark blue color, turning red only when cooked due to protein changes.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
Unlike clawed lobsters, spiny lobsters have long, whip-like antennae and no large claws. They migrate in remarkable single-file lines across the ocean floor.
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, coral reefs and rocky areas
Size
Up to 60 cm (24 in), 1-5 kg
Fun Fact
Spiny lobsters navigate by detecting Earth's magnetic field and march in queues of up to 50 individuals during migration.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
One of the ocean's most magnificent predators, bluefin tuna are warm-blooded fish that can cross the Atlantic in under 60 days. They are among the most valuable fish on Earth.
Habitat
Open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Size
Up to 3 m (10 ft) and 680 kg (1,500 lb)
Fun Fact
A single bluefin tuna sold for $3.1 million at a Tokyo fish market in 2019. They can retract their fins into slots for hydrodynamic speed.
Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Famous from 'Finding Nemo,' clownfish live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones in a remarkable symbiotic relationship. A mucus coating protects them from the sting.
Habitat
Coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, within host anemones
Size
Up to 11 cm (4.3 in)
Fun Fact
All clownfish are born male. The dominant individual in a group becomes female — and if she dies, the next-ranking male changes sex to replace her.
Giant Pacific Octopus
Enteroctopus dofleini
The largest octopus species in the world, known for its intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and ability to change color and texture in milliseconds.
Habitat
Coastal North Pacific, from Alaska to California, and across to Japan
Size
Arm span up to 6 m (20 ft), up to 50 kg
Fun Fact
They have three hearts, blue blood, and nine brains — one central brain and a mini-brain in each arm that can act independently.
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
Despite its small size, the mantis shrimp packs the fastest punch in the animal kingdom. Its strike accelerates faster than a .22 caliber bullet.
Habitat
Indo-Pacific coral reefs, in burrows in sand and rubble
Size
Up to 18 cm (7 in)
Fun Fact
Their eyes have 16 types of color receptors (humans have 3), and their punch creates cavitation bubbles that reach the temperature of the sun's surface.
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The gentle giant of the sea — the whale shark is the largest living fish species. Despite their enormous size, they feed on plankton and small fish by filter-feeding.
Habitat
Warm tropical and temperate oceans worldwide
Size
Up to 12 m (40 ft), occasionally 18 m
Fun Fact
Each whale shark has a unique pattern of spots, like a fingerprint. They can live for over 100 years and have about 3,000 tiny teeth.
Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
An iconic Chesapeake Bay species, the blue crab is a feisty, fast-swimming crustacean whose scientific name literally means 'beautiful savory swimmer.'
Habitat
Western Atlantic estuaries and coastal waters, from Nova Scotia to Argentina
Size
Carapace up to 23 cm (9 in) wide
Fun Fact
Blue crabs can swim sideways at up to 1 meter per second using their paddle-shaped back legs. Only females have red-tipped claws — like painted nails.
Lined Seahorse
Hippocampus erectus
Seahorses are unique fish that swim upright, have a prehensile tail, and — most famously — the males carry and give birth to live young.
Habitat
Western Atlantic seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs
Size
Up to 17 cm (6.7 in)
Fun Fact
Male seahorses have a brood pouch where they carry up to 1,500 eggs. Pairs perform a daily greeting dance, linking tails and changing colors together.