Animals in Mediterranean-Caspian

Below you can find a complete list of Mediterranean Sea animals. We currently track 98 animals in Mediterranean-Caspian and are adding more every day!

The Caspian Sea is the largest saltwater lake in the world, stretching for about 1,200 km from north to south. It covers a gross area of about 38,6400 km and the surface is about 89 feet below sea level.

Reports suggest that approximately 11 million years ago, the Caspian Sea was connected to the world’s oceans via the sea of Azov, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The latter is an intercontinental sea that runs from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia and is known to separate Europe from Africa. These places are sometimes also used as major fishing sites.

The Official National Animal of Mediterranean-Caspian

Being waterbodies, the Mediterranean-Caspian may not have an official national animal but there are some animals or aquatic creatures that are known to exist in the areas. For example, for the Caspian Sea, the Caspian seal is endemic to the Caspian Sea. These seals are one of the very few seal species that exist in inland waters. However, due to the hydrological environment of the sea, these are different from those that exist in freshwaters.

The Mediterranean Sea might not have an official national animal, but the waterbody has about 20 different species of whales, complemented by dolphins.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Mediterranean-Caspian

The Mediterranean-Caspian seas are homes to several unique varieties of wildlife and aquatic animals and plants. Some of the animals found in the Caspian Sea include the Caspian seals and sturgeons. The sea also acts as an important site for migratory birds like ducks, flamingoes, and swans. Meanwhile, some of the animals in the Mediterranean Sea include sharks, rays, pufferfish, Mediterranean monk seals, and loggerhead turtles.

• Caspian seal: The Caspian seals are found exclusively in the brackish waters of the Caspian Sea.
• Sturgeons. These creatures are found in the freshwaters of the Caspian Sea.
• Mediterranean monk seals: These seals are commonly found in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Sharks: You can also pot sharks in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and might attract fishing experts.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Mediterranean-Caspian Today

The Mediterranean-Caspian provides an important habitat for many unique yet dangerous wildlife species. These dangerous animals include the deadliest of sharks, whales, and sturgeons (a.k.a. flying fish).

The giant devil ray, though considered endangered, is one of the most dangerous animals in this area. Unfortunately, due to the fisheries and the degradation of the natural habitat, the Mediterranean-Caspian area is far more dangerous for their sea life than for humans. Angel sharks used to roam much of the water, but they have become endangered with all of this activity.

Endangered Animals

The Mediterranean-Caspian is home to a large number of unique flora and fauna wildlife species. However, some of the animals that are found in these areas are now endangered or are close to being declared extinct due to their predators or human activities. These endangered or prone to being extinct animals include:

• Caspian seal
• Mediterranean monk seal (It is critically endangered)
• Loggerhead sea turtles

Out of 71 different species of sharks assessed by the IUCN Red List criteria, nearly half of the species are on the brink of extinction. The Maltese skate (or the Maltese Ray) is native to the area, but they are considered critically endangered by the IUCN.

Mediterranean Sea Animals

Albacore Tuna

The albacore is a very fast swimmer

Anchovies

November 12th is celebrated as National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day

Angelfish

There are 70 different species!

Anglerfish

The anglerfish has a glowing lure on its head to attract unsuspecting prey

Barnacle

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Barracuda

Can grow to nearly 2 meters long!

Basking Shark

The second biggest fish in the world!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Blue Shark

Blue sharks can have up to 135 pups at a time.

Blue Whale

The largest animal on Earth

Bluefin Tuna

The bluefin is one of the largest fish in the world

Bonito Fish

May eat squid or other small invertebrate ocean life

Bottlenose Dolphin

Stays in groups from 15 to 2,000 in number!'

Bull Shark

Unpredictable and aggressive temperament!

Butterfly Fish

There are more than 100 different species!

Chimaera

Also called ghost shark

Clownfish

Also known as the anemonefish!

Cookiecutter Shark

The cookiecutter shark takes its name because it leaves a cookie-shaped bite hole in its prey.

Coral

There are more than 6000 species of coral in the world's oceans.

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crappie Fish

The crappie is one of the most popular freshwater fish in North America.

Cuttlefish

Found throughout the world's oceans!

Dolphin

Can reach speeds of up to 25 mph!

Dusky Dolphin

Communicates using whistles, squeaks and clicks!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

False Killer Whale

The false killer whale looks like a cross between a dolphin and orca!

Fin Whale

Found throughout ocean waters worldwide!

Fish

Respire through the gills on their heads!

Flounder

A flat fish found in the Atlantic and Pacific!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Fur Seal

Found only in the Northern Hemisphere!

Garden Eel

Garden eel colonies are made up of hundreds to thousands of individuals.

Ghost Crab

Their eyestalks, which are sometimes horned, can swivel 360 degrees

Great White Shark

Can grow to more than 8 meters long!

Grey Seal

One of the rarest species of seal on Earth

Hagfish

Can use slime to suffocate marine predators or escape capture

Hammerhead Shark

Found in coastal waters around the world!

Hermit Crab

There are over 500 different species!

Herring

People enjoy the taste of the oily fish in many different ways including pickled, smoked, salted, dried and fermented.

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

Humpback Whale

There are thought to be 80,000 left in the wild!

Immortal Jellyfish

Excellent hitchhiker on long-trip cargo ships

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jellyfish

Have tentacles around their mouths!

Killer Whale

Typically consumes over 200 kg of food a day!

King Crab

Can have a leg span of nearly 2 meters!

Krill

The krill is perhaps the most important animal in the marine ecosystem!

Lamprey

Not related to the eel

Lobster

Have been known to reach 100 years old!

Man of War Jellyfish

Named for an 18th century warship

Manatee

Also known as the Sea Cow!

Manta Ray

Can grow up to 9m wide!

Minke Whale

There are two recognised species!

Moray Eel

Can grow to nearly 2 meters in length!

Nurse Shark

Commonly found in Central American waters!

Octopus

There are around 300 different species!

Oyster

Can process up to 10 litres of water an hour!

Penguin

Spends 75% of it's time hunting for food!

Porbeagle Shark

The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water

Porpoise

Surprisingly, not a dolphin!

Prawn

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Pufferfish

The second most poisonous creature in the world!

Reef Shark

Grey reef sharks can give birth without males

Sand Tiger Shark

The sand tiger is the shark most commonly seen in aquariums.

Sardines

Schools of sardines can be miles long and are often visible from an airplane

Sawfish

Sawfish teeth keep growing as the fish gets older

Sea Anemone

Creatures have characteristics of both animal and plant

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Sea Lion

It's flippers allow it to walk on the land

Sea Slug

All sea slugs have both male and female sex organs

Sea Squirt

There are more than 3,000 known species!

Sea Turtle

Always return to the same beach to lay eggs!

Sea Urchin

Can live for up to 200 years!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Seal

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Shark

No shark species has any bones in their bodies

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Sixgill shark

The sixgill shark has six pairs of gills instead of the normal five

Skipjack Tuna

The skipjack is the most commonly caught tuna in the world

Sleeper Shark

The Greenland shark is one of the longest living vertebrates in the world.

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Sperm Whale

Each tooth weighs 1kg!

Spinner Shark

Can have up to 20 babies

Spiny Dogfish

Found in ocean waters worldwide!

Sponge

There are more than 9,000 known species!

Squid

Some species are known to have 10 arms!

Starfish

Has 2 stomachs to aid digestion!

Stingray

It's stinger is razor-sharp or serrated!

Sturgeon

Large species can swallow whole salmon

Tiger Shark

The fourth biggest species of shark in the world!

Toadfish

Can be heard out of water

Tropicbird

Nests on tropical islands and cliffs!

Tuna

The tuna has a sleek body that enables it to swim quickly through the water

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Whale Shark

The largest species of fish in the world!

Wrasse

There are more than 500 different species!

Yellowfin Tuna

The yellowfin forms schools with other tuna species

Zebra Mussels

A female zebra mussel can deposit 30,000 to 1,000,000 eggs each year!

Mediterranean Sea Animals List