Below you can find a complete list of Mediterranean Sea animals. We currently track 121 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
Barracuda
Can grow to nearly 2 meters long!
Bearded Fireworm
They emit bioluminescence during their mating ritual.
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Blanket Octopus
Females can weigh up to 40,000 times more than their partners.
Blue Shark
Blue sharks can have up to 135 pups at a time.
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!
Cobia Fish
It has teeth not only in its jaws but in its tongue and the roof of its mouth
Cockle
Cockles live quite long; their lifespan usually ranges from 5 to 10 years in the wild.
Conger Eel
The European Conger ( Conger conger) can weigh as much as an adult human!
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!
Eagle Ray
Majestic underwater bird like fish
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
Goby Fish
Some Goby species are toxic.
Great Hammerhead Shark
Great hammerhead sharks have a 360 view because their eyes are situated on the ends of their mallet-like heads.
Great White Shark
Can grow to more than 8 meters long!
Grey Seal
One of the rarest species of seal on Earth
Gulper Eel
Gulper eels have a similar lifespan to humans and can live up to 85 years old. However, their age depends on their habitat and the availability of food.
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!
John Dory
The John Dory is often labeled one of the ugliest fish in the world and has no known relatives.
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!
Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish)
The ocean sunfish is the biggest bony fish in the world
Moray Eel
Sometimes, groupers invite moray eels to help them hunt!
Nudibranch
They get toxins from their prey to use it against predators.
Nurse Shark
Commonly found in Central American waters!
Oarfish
The Giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest bony fish in the world.
Octopus
There are around 300 different species!
Oilfish
They live in deep water as far as 2,600 feet below the water’s surface.
Oyster
Can process up to 10 litres of water an hour!
Parrotfish
The parrotfish can change from female to male at some point in its life.
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!
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!
Seagull
Some gulls are capable of using tools
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!
Stargazer Fish
Uses an electric shock to stun its prey!
Stingray
It's stinger is razor-sharp or serrated!
Sturgeon
Large species can swallow whole salmon
Telescope Fish
Swallows food, much of it larger than them, whole
Thornback Ray
The skate with the biggest spines!
Tiger Shark
The fourth biggest species of shark in the world!
Toadfish
Can be heard out of water
Triggerfish
There are 40 species of Triggerfish, all with different coloring and patterns.
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.
Viperfish
Viperfish have a bioluminescent spine on their dorsal fin.
Whale Shark
The largest species of fish in the world!
Whiting
"Whiting" can refer to certain other species of ray-finned fish
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
- Albacore Tuna
- Anchovies
- Angelfish
- Anglerfish
- Barnacle
- Barracuda
- Basking Shark
- Bearded Fireworm
- Bird
- Blanket Octopus
- Blue Shark
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bonito Fish
- Bottlenose Dolphin
- Bull Shark
- Butterfly Fish
- Chimaera
- Clownfish
- Cobia Fish
- Cockle
- Conger Eel
- Cookiecutter Shark
- Coral
- Crab
- Crappie Fish
- Cuttlefish
- Dolphin
- Dusky Dolphin
- Eagle Ray
- Eel
- False Killer Whale
- Fin Whale
- Fish
- Flounder
- Fly
- Fur Seal
- Garden Eel
- Ghost Crab
- Goby Fish
- Great Hammerhead Shark
- Great White Shark
- Grey Seal
- Gulper Eel
- Hagfish
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hermit Crab
- Herring
- Horseshoe Crab
- Humpback Whale
- Immortal Jellyfish
- Insects
- Jellyfish
- John Dory
- Killer Whale
- King Crab
- Krill
- Lamprey
- Lobster
- Longfin Mako Shark
- Man of War Jellyfish
- Manatee
- Manta Ray
- Minke Whale
- Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish)
- Moray Eel
- Nudibranch
- Nurse Shark
- Oarfish
- Octopus
- Oilfish
- Oyster
- Parrotfish
- Penguin
- Platybelodon
- Porbeagle Shark
- Porpoise
- Prawn
- Pufferfish
- Reef Shark
- Sand Tiger Shark
- Sardines
- Sawfish
- Sea Anemone
- Sea Eagle
- Sea Lion
- Sea Slug
- Sea Squirt
- Sea Turtle
- Sea Urchin
- Seagull
- Seahorse
- Seal
- Shark
- Shrimp
- Sixgill shark
- Skipjack Tuna
- Sleeper Shark
- Snail
- Sperm Whale
- Spinner Shark
- Spiny Dogfish
- Sponge
- Squid
- Starfish
- Stargazer Fish
- Stingray
- Sturgeon
- Telescope Fish
- Thornback Ray
- Tiger Shark
- Toadfish
- Triggerfish
- Tropicbird
- Tuna
- Turtles
- Viperfish
- Whale Shark
- Whiting
- Wrasse
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Zebra Mussels
Animals in Mediterranean-Caspian FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in the Caspian Sea?
Some of the animals that live in the Caspian Sea include Caspian seals and sturgeons and some migratory birds like swans and flamingoes.
What kind of animals live in the Mediterranean?
Some of the animals in the Mediterranean Sea include sharks, rays, pufferfish, Mediterranean monk seals, and loggerhead turtles – some of which are now endangered or extinct.
Does the Caspian Sea have sharks?
Yes, some parts of the Caspian Sea are home to sharks. However, recreational fishing has made the area somewhat dangerous for 30 different species.
What dangerous animals are in the Mediterranean Sea?
Some of the deadliest sharks and whales can be found in the Mediterranean Sea.
How many seas are there in the world?
The Mediterranean Sea is one of approximately 50 seas in the world. Oceans, properly speaking, are the vast, open portions of the earth’s salt waters. When a section of the ocean is partly surrounded by land, then it is a sea.
