Animals in South Atlantic

Updated: April 17, 2021
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Below you can find a complete list of South Atlantic Ocean animals. We currently track 193 animals in South Atlantic and are adding more every day!

The world’s deep oceans have been compared to a desert – vast expanses with comparatively little visible life. Yet, the world’s oceans, including the South Atlantic Ocean, are teaming with wild animals – docile, dangerous, and unique.

The South Atlantic Ocean borders the coasts of Africa and South America.

The area contains a variety of habitats ranging from warm tropical beaches to cold seafloor mountains and valleys that exist in total darkness.

Read on to learn about the rarest and unique wildlife to be found in the crashing waves and depths of the South Atlantic!

South Atlantic Animals Summary

What familiar and unusual animal species live in the South Atlantic? As with all of the world’s oceans, this saltwater environment is home to microscopic plankton, many species of fish, marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and seals, sea turtles, birds, crustaceans, jellyfish, marine invertebrates, and more.

The variety does not end there, however. Colorful tropical fish and small sharks stalk coastal coral reefs. Huge whales, manta rays, and basking sharks open their mouths to feast on the smallest of creatures, plankton, and krill. Seagulls and their relatives fill the skies, while flightless penguins hunt from warm and cold shores.

The Official National Animal of the South Atlantic

The United Nations’ Law of the Sea Convention in 1982 limited “territorial waters” – those belonging to and controlled by a specific country – to twelve nautical miles from the coast. Therefore, the bulk of the South Atlantic does not belong to any country, so it does not have a national animal.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in the South Atlantic

On the seafloor, at the bottom of the South Atlantic, are shallow areas known as continental shelves. These areas are home to many types of fish. People even fish there. They catch varieties such as sardines, round and Brazillian sardinella, groupers, snappers, horse mackerel, hake, pilchard, anchovy, Argentine shortfin squid,

Near the coast, fishermen hunt other prey, including northern brown shrimp, perlemoen abalone, and American cupped oyster.

Ah, but perhaps you are not interested in deep-sea fishing but in wildlife watching. Perhaps the easiest way to view South Atlantic wildlife is to visit a beach along the coast of South America or Africa.

Sometimes, unusual and exotic animals even come ashore. For example, if you want to experience the magical moment when sea turtles drag themselves ashore to lay eggs or when the babies hatch en masse and make a run for the sea, head to the beaches of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Guyana, French Guiana, or Suriname. You have to visit at just the right time to see green, leatherback, or olive ridley sea turtles.

You can also simply put on a pair of goggles and a snorkel and go swimming. Colorful fish, crabs, and other animals will be visible anywhere that the water is clear.

Are you interested in getting up-close and personal with the toothy grin of a great white shark? Travel to South Africa, where experienced guides will take you under the water in a protective shark cage.

The Most Dangerous Animals in the South Atlantic Today

When we talk about dangerous ocean animals, sharks often come readily to mind. Worldwide, the great white shark is responsible for the most shark attacks on people, and this is true of the South Atlantic as well. Brazil and South Africa are among the top ten countries for unprovoked shark attacks.

There are, however, other dangerous animals – ones that are very hard to see. For example, the Irukandji jellyfish, native to the waters of Australia, has been known to sting people swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. It is very small, its bell or “head” is less than an inch. Its stinging tentacles can be equally small or can be more than three feet in length. Their venom is very potent and deadly. According to one researcher, the sting is “100 times as potent as that of a cobra” bite.

Endangered Animals in the South Atlantic

The South Atlantic is home to a number of exotic and endangered species. The West Indian and West African manatees or sea cows are slow-moving herbivores that can be easily injured by speedboats. They are protected species and in danger of extinction.

There are also seal, sea lion, sea turtle, and whale species on the endangered species list. These, as well as dolphins and sea birds, may become entangled in fishing nets or strangled by human trash.

South Atlantic Ocean Animals

African Penguin

The only penguin species in Africa!

Albacore Tuna

The albacore is a very fast swimmer

Albatross

The largest wingspan of any bird in the world!

Albertonectes

The Albertonectes had the longest neck out of other Elasmosaurids.

Amberjack

Amberjack can grow up to 200 pounds

American Eel

Don't eat raw eel! Their blood is poisonous to humans when consumed raw.

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

Baleen Whale

“Sings” a whale song during breeding season.

Banana Eel

Named for the yellow body and brown spots that make it look like a banana.

Barnacle

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Barracuda

Can grow to nearly 2 meters long!

Barreleye Fish (Barrel Eye)

A barreleye fish's eyes can rotate in their head to look for prey.

Bearded Fireworm

They emit bioluminescence during their mating ritual.

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Blackfin Tuna

expensive sushi-grade tuna

Blacknose Shark

When threatened, Blacknose sharks raise their head, arch their back, and lower their pectoral fins.

Bladefin Basslet

The tiny bladefin basslet belongs to the same subfamily as the giant grouper, Epinephelinae.

Blanket Octopus

Females can weigh up to 40,000 times more than their partners.

Blue Dragon Sea Slug

They inflict a painful, venomous sting

Blue Shark

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

Blue Tang

One of the most colorful members of the genus Acanthurus

Blue Whale

The largest animal on Earth

Bluefin Tuna

The bluefin is one of the largest fish in the world

Bluefish

Bluefish are known for their "bluefish blitzes," where they chase schools of small baitfish to the surface, creating a feeding frenzy visible from the shore.

Bonefish

Bonefish have migratory habits, moving from shallow waters to deeper waters during different times of the year.

Bonito Fish

May eat squid or other small invertebrate ocean life

Bonnethead Shark

Bonnetheads are the only hammerhead sharks that use their pectoral fins to swim.

Bottlenose Dolphin

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

Box Jellyfish

Venomous marine animals

Boxfish

Can release a toxin from its skin

Bronze Whaler Shark

The Bronze Whaler Sharks only hunt in large groups.

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.

Colossal Squid

Can survive eating a single fish for months

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!

Damselfish

Damselfish belong to the family Pomacentridae

Dolphin

Can reach speeds of up to 25 mph!

Drum Fish

The drum fish makes a croaking sound with its swimming bladder!

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!

Elephant Seal

The largest species of seal in the world!

Escolar

Its system can’t metabolize wax esters, which can lead to unpleasantness for diners.

False Killer Whale

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

Fangtooth

Has the largest teeth compared to body size of any known fish!

Feather Star

Feather stars look like flowers. They have no heart, eyes, or brain.

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!

Flounder Fish

There are around 240 different species of Flounder fish

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Fish

Can glide in the air for hundreds of feet

Football Fish

The football fish is named after its unusual round or oblong shape

Frigatebird

Found inhabiting tropical islands and coasts!

Frogfish

The frogfish can change colors, but it takes several weeks to do so

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

Giant Isopod

Giant isopods are the largest group of isopods in the world

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!

Harbor Seal

Harbor seals can dive as deep as 1400 feet

Hardhead Catfish

The hardhead catfish has a sharp spine near its fin to inject venom

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.

Horse Mackerel

Got their name from a myth that other fish would ride them over great distances

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

Humboldt Penguin

Found on the South American coast!

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!

Jack Crevalle

One of the biggest species in the Caranx genus

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!

Kingklip

A delicacy in South Africa

Krill

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

Lancetfish

Lancetfish live at depths up to 6,500 feet below sea level

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

Though it’s a huge animal, the lifespan of the lion’s mane jellyfish is only a year.

Livyatan

The Livyatan had 1 to 1.2 foot long, interlocking teeth

Lobster

Have been known to reach 100 years old!

Lumpfish

The lumpfish have sticky suction cups on their fins

Magellanic Penguin

Threatened by oil spills!

Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish)

It's called the rabbit of the ocean because it multiplies so quickly.

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!

Megamouth Shark

Swims with its mouth open to capture prey

Minke Whale

There are two recognised species!

Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish)

The ocean sunfish is the biggest bony fish in the world

Moon Jellyfish

Moon Jellies are bioluminescent, so they glow in the dark! They can also de-age!

Moray Eel

Sometimes, groupers invite moray eels to help them hunt!

Mosasaurus

The Mosasaurus was much longer than the fearsome Tyrannosaur rex.

Mudskipper

They walk on land

Mullet Fish

The Striped Mullet is one of the best-known and most easily identified species, with black horizontal stripes along its body.

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

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.

Opah

Opah are brightly colored, with red-orange fins and a silvery body.

Oyster

Can process up to 10 litres of water an hour!

Oyster Toadfish

The oyster toadfish can produce poison to protect itself

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!

Pipefish

The male pipefish has the ability to carry fertilized eggs with him

Pompano Fish

They are bottom-feeders

Porcupinefish

The Porcupinefish secrete a potent neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin; this poison can kill both people and predators.

Prawn

Closely related to crabs and lobsters!

Pufferfish

The second most poisonous creature in the world!

Pygmy Shark

Pygmy sharks underbelly glows to attract prey that swims beneath it.

Pyrosome

They float with the current.

Quahog Clam

Their hinged shell protects their soft body

Red Drum Fish

There were a few sightings of red drums in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily and Israel, but they do not naturally occur there, so theories are they escaped from fish farms.

Reef Shark

Grey reef sharks can give birth without males

Rockhopper Penguin

There are 3 different species!

Sailfish

Fast billfish with a sail-like dorsal fin

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!

Sei Whale

This whale is one of the fastest of the cetaceans

Shark

No shark species has any bones in their bodies

Shortfin Mako Shark

Shortfin Mako sharks can jump 20 feet above the water!”

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Silky Shark

Has an extremely acute sense of hearing

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!

Snook Fish

Males change into females after the spawning season

Speckled Trout

Speckled trout are not actually a species of trout.

Sperm Whale

Each tooth weighs 1kg!

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!

Squirrelfish

Uses vibrations to communicate with other fish

Starfish

Has 2 stomachs to aid digestion!

Stingray

It's stinger is razor-sharp or serrated!

Stone Crab

Females can lay up to a million eggs in one sitting

Surgeonfish

Paracanthurus hepatus, the palette surgeonfish or bluetang, is the only member of its genus

Swordfish

Lose their scales and teeth as adults

Tarpon

Its genus dates back to the Cretaceous period – 113 million years ago

Telescope Fish

Swallows food, much of it larger than them, whole

Thornback Ray

The skate with the biggest spines!

Thresher Shark

Thresher Sharks have a distinctive, thresher-like tail.

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.

Wahoo Fish

Wahoo can change colors when they're excited and while they hunt

Wandering Albatross

Featured in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

Whale Shark

The largest species of fish in the world!

White Marlin

speedy open ocean billfish

White Shark

White Sharks live in all of the world's oceans.

Wolffish

The wolffish has impressive canines with a powerful bite force!

Wrasse

There are more than 500 different species!

Yellowfin Tuna

The yellowfin forms schools with other tuna species

South Atlantic Ocean Animals List

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AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

Animals in South Atlantic FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Where in the world is the South Atlantic located?

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world’s oceans. It fills the void between the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The South Atlantic Ocean, specifically, is the ocean between Africa and South America.

What animals live in the South Atlantic?

There are many, many species of fish. They range from tiny, colorful reef fish to massive sharks, such as the basking shark and the great white shark.

Whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions also call the South Atlantic home. These are all types of marine mammals.

There are also many sea birds. These include gulls, albatross, petrels, and their relatives as well as penguins. Did you know that some penguins live on warm African beaches?

We can’t forget sea turtles and invertebrates like shrimp, crabs, jellyfish, clams, and sea snails.

What is the rarest animal in the South Atlantic?

What is the rarest and most unusual animal of the South Atlantic? The spectacle porpoise is one of the most little-known whales in the world.

What is the most unique animal of the South Atlantic?

The most strange and exotic animals of the South Atlantic are tiny organisms that live around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, such as the bathypelagic ctenophore or comb jelly.