Vulnerable
Animals that are at risk of becoming endangered if threats continue, with declining populations that need protection.
Giant oceanic manta ray
Giant oceanic manta ray
Scientific Name
Mobula birostris
Weight LB
6600 Lbs
Average Life Span
20 years
Fact
Manta rays are giant, gentle filter-feeders with unique belly spots like fingerprints, the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish, and the ability to "fly" out of the water, performing incredible acrobatics despite their massive size (wingspans up to 29 feet!). They constantly swim to breathe and feed on plankton, visiting "cleaning stations" for hygiene and displaying high intelligence, including recognizing themselves in mirrors.
Weight KG
3000 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Habitat
Ocean
Type
Fish
Diet
Carnivore
Region
Australia
Great White Shark
Great White Shark
Scientific Name
Carcharodon carcharias
Weight LB
1,500–5,000 lb
Average Life Span
30–70 years
Fact
A fun fact about great white sharks is that they are partially warm-blooded, allowing them to maintain a body temperature warmer than the surrounding water, which helps them hunt faster in colder seas, and they possess a "sixth sense" (electroreception) to detect the electrical fields of prey, even those hiding in sand. They also have rows of serrated, triangular teeth that can reach nearly 7 inches, and their skin is covered in tiny scales that reduce drag for speed.
Weight KG
680–2,300 kg
Country
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Habitat
Ocean
Type
Fish
Diet
Carnivore
Region
Australia
Seahorse
Seahorse
Scientific Name
Hippocampus kuda
Weight LB
0.01–0.02 lb
Average Life Span
1–4 years
Fact
A fun fact about Hippocampus kuda (Spotted Seahorse) is that males get pregnant and give birth, carrying the eggs in a pouch until they release live young, and they often form monogamous pairs, performing courtship dances and changing colors to strengthen their bond. They are also poor swimmers, using their prehensile tails to cling to seagrass and ambush tiny prey with their tube-like snouts, needing to eat almost constantly to fuel their high metabolism.
Weight KG
0.005–0.01 kg
Country
Indonesia
Continent
Asia
Habitat
Ocean
Type
Fish
Diet
Carnivore
Region
Asia
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Scientific Name
Bubo scandiacus
Weight LB
3.5-6.6 lbs
Average Life Span
10-28 years
Fact
A fun fact about snowy owls is that unlike most owls, they are diurnal (active during the day) and hunt in broad daylight, especially during the continuous sun of the Arctic summer, and males become whiter as they age while females retain dark bars for camouflage. They also have incredibly dense feathers, including covering their feet, to survive extreme Arctic cold, and can swallow prey like lemmings whole.
Weight KG
1.6-3 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Habitat
Arctic tundra, open plains
Type
Birds
Diet
Carnivore
Region
Asia, North America
Walrus
Walrus
Scientific Name
Odobenus rosmarus
Weight LB
1,800–3,700 lb
Average Life Span
30–40 years
Fact
A walrus's tusks are actually elongated canine teeth that never stop growing throughout their lives, reaching lengths of up to 3 feet (1 meter).
Weight KG
800–1,700 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Habitat
Arctic seas, Coastal waters, Ice floes
Type
Mammals
Diet
Carnivore
Region
North America