Whether it is in murky waters or ocean blue waters, there will always be the fastest amongst other sea creatures. Their speed could reach up to 110 km/h and some could even jump from underwater to mid-air.
Well today, we’ll be learning about the ocean’s fastest swimmers. From big to small, these creatures will blow your mind as you learn more. And if you want to learn more about Earth’s fastest animals, why not take a look at the fastest land animals on Earth.
- Pilot Whale
The pilot whale, despite it being a whale, is a great hunter underwater. This animal has its similarities to a killer whale or an orca and also dolphins. The primary diet for a pilot whale is cuttlefish, small-sized fishes, squids, and also octopuses.
Often times, to obtain the meals necessary to stay alive, a pilot whale has to dive into deep waters of up to 3200 feet below the water surface. Despite the high pressure underwater, this whale can easily surf through and reach a surprising speed of 32 km/h.
- Killer Whale
Next on our list, another whale also known by its unique black and white colors. It is recognized as the king of the seas. Being in the same family as dolphins, the killer whale is the largest animal in that family.
Not only the largest, but the killer whale is also on the very top of the food chain. The killer whale is a beast of the sea with an average weight of 6.5 tons and a length of 7 meters.
While the killer whale has to hunt for food such as salmon, the whale also needs to be as fast or even faster than its prey. While chasing prey, this whale can reach a speed of up to 55 km/h.
- Bonito
In contrary to the previously mentioned sea creatures, the bonito is a medium-sized fish that is only as big as your arm. You may also know this fish like sardines, or the usual fish that people consume every day.
Due to its small size, this fish has excellent muscle control which allows it to twitch its fins back and forth. This unique ability enables the bonito to achieve better endurance to travel at a far distance and travel up to 64 km/h.
Though the bonito is not a predator, it uses its speed to migrate to different areas depending on the season and temperature. Different other species also migrate just like the bonito, by moving to warmer areas when it is winter. You can check how animals prepare and survive winter coldness.
- Bonefish
Just as the name says, the bonefish is named because it consists of many fine thin bones inside it. The bonefish can only be found on shallow waters, and it is known to be the fastest fish in shallow water. Its habitat is known to be in shallow or muddy areas.
One unique characteristic of a bonefish is that each bonefish have their air bladder. This organ is used to help them breathe underwater. This fastest shallow water swimmer is marked at 60km/h.
- Flying Fish
Who says fishes can’t fly? This species of fish will prove you wrong right away. On top of its high speed in swimming, this fish is also able to glide through the air.
The flying fish is equipped with connective tissues. This tissue allows it to jump and glide at a top speed of 69 km/h above water, and around 65 km/h below water.
This animal is also considered as a nocturnal animal because it hunts only at night. If you haven’t checked our article on 6 nocturnal animals, feel free to check it out too.
- Mako Shark
The one and only shark on our list is a mako shark. This animal is the fastest shark amongst other varieties of sharks. Their habitats are in tropical seas, and they can be found all over the world. The speed of this animal has been marked at 74 km/h. Watch out for this shark, because this shark is a threat to surfers and divers.
Compared to other fishes, sharks are also considered a long-living animal. To learn more about long-living animals, feel free to check out our article on the longest-living animals.
- Marlin
Saving best for last is the fastest of them all. The marlin fish has a long body, and a sharp bill or also known as their mouths. This particular fish is famous at sport fishing due to its size and incredible strength.
Marlins can reach up to 7 meters in length and a weight of up to 31 kg. The unique characteristic of this animal lies in its bill, which allows it to quickly swift through the water as it has a narrow body.
Anyways if you’re interested to learn more about marine animals, here is an article you might wanna check out: 6 Amazing Antarctica Marine Animals.