Page 9 - Super Shark Encyclopedia
P. 9
ON THE SEASHORE
Seabirds rely on the ocean
as a source of food Where the ocean meets the land, marine life has to cope
with the movement of the tides. Some animals stay put at
low tide and wait for the water to return. Others have to
swim out with the tide. The crash of waves on the seashore
can be extremely powerful, and animals such as marine
iguanas and crabs need to be able to grip the rocks or hide
in crevices to avoid being washed away.
Sailfish and dolphins
may leap out of the
water when chasing fish
Filter feeders, such as
manta rays, feed on tiny
animals in the plankton
Large schools of fish provide
food for many coastal predators
COASTAL WATERS
Deep-water nutrients rise to
the surface along coastlines,
providing vital nourishment
to ocean life. There is so
much food that schooling
fish collect there, making
them a tempting target for
sharks. Many people around
the world use these schooling
fish as a source of food.
Some fish bury
themselves in
mud and sand
to ambush prey
DEEP SEA
The deepest parts of the ocean
are dark, cold, and under high
pressure. The animals that live
there, such as this deep-sea
octopus, scavenge on dead
Hydrothermal vents are
material falling from above,
places where hot water
or wait in the dark to ambush
erupts from the ocean
another animal.
floor, and are home to
many unique species INTRODUCTION
Water world
From the bright, choppy surface to the eerily dark
bottom of the ocean, animals have adapted to live with
the local conditions. Every layer has its own community
of ocean animals, even in places where food is scarce. 7
