Below you can find a complete list of Southeast Pacific Ocean animals. We currently track 184 animals in the Southeast Pacific and are adding more every day!
The Southeast Pacific ocean is found south of the equator and east of the international dateline to the coast of southern South America and down to the Straits of Magellan where it meets the South Atlantic ocean. Like the rest of the Pacific, the southeast Pacific ocean is rich in wildlife, with species that are abundant and common and species that are unique and rare. The following are some facts about the animals of the southeast Pacific.
The Official National Animals in Southeast Pacific
The southeast Pacific does not have a national animal, but the national animals of the countries that border it are:
- Ecuador — Andean condor
- Peru — vicuña
- Chile — huemul deer
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Southeast Pacific
The top wildlife in the southeast Pacific ocean can be found anywhere from its beaches and rocky cliffs to its depths. Both the Galapagos Islands, which are mostly in the southeast Pacific, and Easter Island have a wealth of rare and unique wildlife. For example, the world’s only marine iguana is found in the Galapagos Islands. This black or grayish reptile has a more blunt snout than its land-dwelling cousin and pyramid-shaped scales down its back. Other top animals in the Southeast Pacific include:
- Scalloped hammerhead shark – This shark not only has a hammer attached to its head, but the hammer is scalloped. The animal’s eyes are on either end of the hammer. Males can be a little less than 6 feet long, but the larger females can be over 8 feet long and at around 180 pounds weigh over twice as much as the males.
- Waved Albatross – One unique feature of this bird is the stomach oil it produces to feed its chicks, repel its enemies and use it as an energy source. Another is the salt gland that flushes excess salt from its body.
- Galapagos Shark – This animal is a type of requiem shark. These sharks get their name from “requin,” which is French for shark, or a verb that describes baring the teeth in a grimace.
- Galapagos Sea Lion -This graceful and playful pinniped is the smallest of the sea lions. Sea lions differ from seals in that they use all four of their legs to walk, and they have external ears.
- Galapagos Fur Seal – These animals are more sea lions than seals since they have external ears. They live in colonies on Galapagos Island beaches.
- Galapagos Green Turtle -Though these turtles are at home in the Pacific Ocean, they are often found in lagoons where they eat seagrass. Females famously come ashore to lay eggs, then return to the sea, never to see their hatchlings.
- Blue-footed Booby – This marine bird is famous for its sapphire-blue feet that the male displays during courtship. Because they dive into the water for fish, their nostrils are sealed shut, and they have to breathe through the edges of their mouth.
- Sally Lightfoot Crab – This is a very abundant crab found on the coasts of South America and the Galapagos. Though the young are black or gray, adults can be brilliantly colored.
- Whale Shark -The whale shark is not a whale, but it is a shark, as its skeleton is made of cartilage and not bone. At 62 feet in length, it’s the largest fish in the world but is peaceable and feeds on plankton. It can live as long as 130 years.
- Sunfish – The sunfish or common mola is a huge, odd fish that looks like a pancake with fins at the back. It can weigh over a ton, and the female produces an astounding number of eggs at one time. Three hundred million eggs are not uncommon for this fish.
- Ghost Crab – Ghost crabs get their name because they are pale and nocturnal. They both hunt for live prey and scavenge.
- Blacktip Shark – This medium size shark is named for the black markings on the tips of its fins.
- Chilean Jack Mackerel – Some interesting facts about this fish are that it’s not a mackerel at all but a jack, and it forms huge schools. These schools are irresistible to commercial fisheries, and now countries are working to support the jack mackerel’s population.
- Red-lipped Batfish – This weird little fish not only has bright red lips but uses its fins to walk over the floor of the ocean.
- Easter Island Butterflyfish – This fish has a flattened body that reminds some people of the shape of a butterfly. Its body is silver-gray and edged in white. It’s only found around Easter Island.
- De Filippi’s Petrel – This seabird breeds off the coast of Chile in the Desventuradas Islands.
- Deep-dwelling Moray Eel – This predatory eel can be found as deep as 820 feet in the ocean.
- Randall’s Frogfish – This frogfish is found in the waters off Easter Island and waits beneath rocks for prey to come close enough for an ambush.
- Cetaceans found in the southeast Pacific include sperm whales, killer whales, Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, and several species of dolphins.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Southeast Pacific Today
Some of the most dangerous animals in the Southeast Pacific are the:
- Cone Snail: Many of these snails have a beautiful shell, but they must not be handled if they’re found washed up on a beach or in a coral reef. Venomous cone snails are called cigarette snails because if they sting a person, the venom can kill in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette.
- Blacktip Shark: This shark can become dangerous if it senses food in the area and has been known to attack people. Some facts about this shark are that the females can reproduce asexually, and they sometimes leap out of the water and spin in the air.
- Stingray: These cartilaginous fish come with a venous stinger in the tail. Though the sting is excruciating and deaths are rare, one of these fish killed naturalist Steve Irwin.
- Barracuda: Some fear this ferocious, many-fanged fish more than sharks. They sometimes mistake bright, shiny jewelry for prey.
Endangered Animals
Unfortunately, many animals in the southeast Pacific are endangered. This is due to overfishing, climate change and pollution. Being tangled up in nets, caught by hooks, or ingesting poisons meant for other species also adds to mortality. Endangered animals include:
- Scalloped hammerhead shark, which is critically endangered.
- Leatherback sea turtle. This is the largest turtle in the world and is either vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List or endangered according to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
- Galapagos fur seal, which is endangered.
- Whale shark, which is also endangered.
- Waved albatross, which is critically endangered.
Southeast Pacific Ocean Animals
Albacore Tuna
The albacore is a very fast swimmer
Albatross
The largest wingspan of any bird in the world!
Amberjack
Amberjack can grow up to 200 pounds
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
Australian Flathead Perch
This small fish fetches a high price tag, with individuals selling from $1,000 to $5,000.
Baleen Whale
“Sings” a whale song during breeding season.
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.
Basking Shark
The second biggest fish in the world!
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Black Marlin
Every black marlin is born as a female.
Blanket Octopus
Females can weigh up to 40,000 times more than their partners.
Blobfish
One of the ugliest creatures in existence!
Blue Dragon Sea Slug
They inflict a painful, venomous sting
Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus produces some of the deadliest poison in the world
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
Bonnethead Shark
Bonnetheads are the only hammerhead sharks that use their pectoral fins to swim.
Borneo Elephant
The smallest species of elephant!
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
Bull Shark
Unpredictable and aggressive temperament!
Butterfly Fish
There are more than 100 different species!
Chimaera
Also called ghost shark
Chiton
Chitons are closely related to snails, oysters, and mussels because of their shared phylum
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.
Coconut Crab
The largest terrestrial arthropod in the world
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.
Crested Penguin
Has long yellow eyebrows!
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!
Dugong
Closely related to the Manatee!
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 Clam
Can reach nearly 4ft in length!
Giant Siphonophore
The giant siphonophore is longer than the largest sea mammal – the blue whale.
Goshawk
The goshawk is a popular choice among European falconers
Great Hammerhead Shark
Great hammerhead sharks have a 360-degree 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 Reef Shark
One of the most common shark species!
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 Squid
The Humboldt squid can change colors to communicate
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale makes complex, beautiful songs with its throat.
Immortal Jellyfish
Excellent hitchhiker on long-trip cargo ships
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jellyfish
Have tentacles around their mouths!
Keta Salmon
During spawning the look of the male changes. Among other things, he grows a beak called a kype that bears fangs.
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!
Lancetfish
Lancetfish live at depths up to 6,500 feet below sea level
Leopard Shark
Leopard Sharks have teeth with three points.
Lionfish
Females can release up to 15,000 eggs at a time!
Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
Though it’s a huge animal, the lifespan of the lion’s mane jellyfish is only a year.
Little Penguin
The smallest species of penguin!
Livyatan
The Livyatan had 1 to 1.2 foot long, interlocking teeth
Lobster
Have been known to reach 100 years old!
Longfin Mako Shark
Mako sharks are warm-blooded fish!
Lumpfish
The lumpfish have sticky suction cups on their fins
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
Manta Ray
Can grow up to 9m wide!
Megamouth Shark
Swims with its mouth open to capture prey
Milkfish
Females lay up to 5 million eggs at one time in warm, shallow and salty waters
Mojarra
The mojarra's protruding mouth allows it to sift along the seabed for food
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!
Mudskipper
They walk on land
Nematode
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Neptune Grouper
The largest recorded specimen ever caught was 17" long
Nudibranch
They get toxins from their prey to use it against predators.
Oarfish
The Giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest bony fish in the world.
Ocean Whitefish
Common around Southern California
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!
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
Porbeagle Shark
The porbeagle is one of the few sharks that jumps out of the water
Porcupinefish
The Porcupinefish secrete a potent neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin; this poison can kill both people and predators.
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.
Reef Shark
Grey reef sharks can give birth without males
Sailfish
Fast billfish with a sail-like dorsal fin
Sand Dollar
Sand Dollar skeletons make popular collection items for seashell collectors.
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
Scorpion Fish
There are more than 200 recognised species!
Sea Anemone
Creatures have characteristics of both animal and plant
Sea Dragon
Inhabits tropical coastal waters of Australia!
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!
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!
Swordfish
Lose their scales and teeth as adults
Tang
Found around shallow coral reefs!
Tarpon
Its genus dates back to the Cretaceous period – 113 million years ago
Telescope Fish
Swallows food, much of it larger than them, whole
Thresher Shark
Thresher Sharks have a distinctive, thresher-like tail.
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.
Vaquita
Smallest cetacean in the ocean
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 Shark
White Sharks live in all of the world's oceans.
Wrasse
There are more than 500 different species!
Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
Sea snakes spend approximately 90% of their lives under water.
Yellow-Eyed Penguin
The rarest species of penguin!
Yeti Crab
The yeti crab has hairy arms, which collect bacteria to feed on
Zebra Shark
Can get to be 30 years old in the wild!
Southeast Pacific Ocean Animals List
- Albacore Tuna
- Albatross
- Amberjack
- Anchovies
- Angelfish
- Anglerfish
- Australian Flathead Perch
- Baleen Whale
- Barnacle
- Barracuda
- Barreleye Fish (Barrel Eye)
- Basking Shark
- Bird
- Black Marlin
- Blanket Octopus
- Blobfish
- Blue Dragon Sea Slug
- Blue-Ringed Octopus
- Blue Shark
- Blue Whale
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bonito Fish
- Bonnethead Shark
- Borneo Elephant
- Bottlenose Dolphin
- Box Jellyfish
- Boxfish
- Bull Shark
- Butterfly Fish
- Chimaera
- Chiton
- Clownfish
- Cobia Fish
- Cockle
- Coconut Crab
- Colossal Squid
- Conger Eel
- Cookiecutter Shark
- Coral
- Crab
- Crappie Fish
- Crested Penguin
- Cuttlefish
- Damselfish
- Dolphin
- Drum Fish
- Dugong
- Dusky Dolphin
- Eagle Ray
- Eel
- Elephant Seal
- Escolar
- False Killer Whale
- Fangtooth
- Feather Star
- Fin Whale
- Fish
- Flounder
- Flounder Fish
- Fly
- Flying Fish
- Football Fish
- Frigatebird
- Frogfish
- Garden Eel
- Ghost Crab
- Giant Clam
- Giant Siphonophore
- Goshawk
- Great Hammerhead Shark
- Great White Shark
- Grey Reef Shark
- Gulper Eel
- Hagfish
- Hammerhead Shark
- Harbor Seal
- Hardhead Catfish
- Hermit Crab
- Herring
- Horse Mackerel
- Horseshoe Crab
- Humboldt Squid
- Humpback Whale
- Immortal Jellyfish
- Insects
- Jellyfish
- Keta Salmon
- Killer Whale
- King Crab
- Krill
- Lancetfish
- Leopard Shark
- Lionfish
- Lion’s Mane Jellyfish
- Little Penguin
- Livyatan
- Lobster
- Longfin Mako Shark
- Lumpfish
- Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish)
- Man of War Jellyfish
- Manta Ray
- Megamouth Shark
- Milkfish
- Mojarra
- Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish)
- Moon Jellyfish
- Moray Eel
- Mudskipper
- Nematode
- Neptune Grouper
- Nudibranch
- Oarfish
- Ocean Whitefish
- Oceanic Whitetip Shark
- Octopus
- Oilfish
- Opah
- Oyster
- Parrotfish
- Penguin
- Pipefish
- Pompano Fish
- Porbeagle Shark
- Porcupinefish
- Prawn
- Pufferfish
- Pygmy Shark
- Pyrosome
- Reef Shark
- Sailfish
- Sand Dollar
- Sand Tiger Shark
- Sardines
- Sawfish
- Scorpion Fish
- Sea Anemone
- Sea Dragon
- Sea Eagle
- Sea Lion
- Sea Slug
- Sea Squirt
- Sea Turtle
- Sea Urchin
- Seagull
- Seahorse
- Seal
- Sei Whale
- Shark
- Shortfin Mako Shark
- Shrimp
- Silky Shark
- Sixgill shark
- Skipjack Tuna
- Sleeper Shark
- Snail
- Sperm Whale
- Spinner Shark
- Spiny Dogfish
- Sponge
- Squid
- Starfish
- Stingray
- Swordfish
- Tang
- Tarpon
- Telescope Fish
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Toadfish
- Tropicbird
- Tuna
- Turtles
- Vaquita
- Viperfish
- Wahoo Fish
- Wandering Albatross
- Whale Shark
- White Shark
- Wrasse
- Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
- Yellow-Eyed Penguin
- Yeti Crab
- Zebra Shark
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How many animals live in the Southeast Pacific Ocean?
It is safe to say billions of animals live in the southeast Pacific Ocean. Some of these animals are microscopic, like those that make up zooplankton, and others are large, such as whale sharks and sunfish.
