Sea Life

Fastest Sea Animals In The Ocean Ranked

As we all know that water covers about 70 % of the planet. The marine life living under the water has not been explored completely and it remains a mystery for people. Researchers are trying to explore every aspect of their living habitat for better understanding. This article focuses on the sea animals that tend to travel with a burst of speed. Here we go.

Fastest Sea Animals In The Ocean Ranked

Depending upon the size and shape, the top 10 sea animals are listed below that conquer the oceanic world:

1: Sailfish

The fastest among all the sea animals is the sailfish which can travel with a maximum speed of 109 kph or 68 mph. these fastest swimmers prefer temperate warm waters, can grow to about 4 to 5 feet in a year only, and weigh about 182 pounds. As a defense mechanism, they raise a sail ( a groove-like structure) on their back.

2:  Black Marlin

The Black Marlin, at a speed of 82 mph can swim through the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. They can reach up to 15 feet in length and can weigh about 1,650 pounds. The round dorsal fins and rigid pectoral fins help them to swim at their top speed.

3:  Swordfish

As the name indicates, they have a long, flattened beak that resembles the sword. They have torpedo-shaped compressed bodies and curved dorsal fins located near the tail, which allow them to swim in the open waters at the speed of 60 mph. The species are 15 feet in length and are about 1,182 pounds heavy.

4:  Yellow Fin Tuna

The next on the list is the Yellowfin Tuna which has long, curved dorsal and anal fins that allow them to swim with a burst of 50 mph through the extended waters. They are named as they have yellow finlets along the stem of the caudal peduncle. These species are not only fast swimmers but can travel long distances as well forming schools with other species of fish.

5:  Pilot Whale

Pilot whales belong to a group of dolphins, they are also named blackfish. The small dorsal fins, large rounded head, and streamlined shape of the body allow them to swim at a speed of 47 mph. The size of the Pilot whale is about 24 feet long and 3.5 tonnes heavy making them become one of the fastest swimmers of the sea.

6:  Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

The warm-blooded Tuna fish can swim to swim at a speed of 43 mph. These species can reach up to 8.2 feet and weigh about 551 pounds.  However, the largest species of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna reaches about 12 feet and weigh about 1,500 pounds.

7:  Bonito Fish

Bonito fish is a member of the mackerel fish that lives in the tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They have long and compressed body shaped that can grow to a length of 3 feet. The small-sized species can reach a top speed of 40 mph as they are highly migratory species.

8:  Mako Shark

The Mako sharks are known to be the smallest species in the oceanic world which can grow to about 15 feet and weigh about 1,400 pounds. They have a torpedo-shaped long metallic blue colored body, with long pectoral fins which allow them to swim with a top speed of 40 mph.

9:  Flying Fish

Don’t get confused that these fishes can fly.  No, the species do not fly but can swim with a burst of 35 mph. Sometimes, the species leap so high that it looks like a flying fish. The torpedo-shaped body, and the large pectoral and pelvic fins allow them to glide above the surface of the water.

10:  Killer Whale

Killer whales, also known as Orcas can travel a long distance with a maximum speed of 32 mph. They are the apex hunters of the oceanic realm that can grow to a size of 31 feet. The long and erect dorsal fins help whales to gently curve their body while swimming.

Conclusion

Many species of marine habitat depend upon their speed to live under the water. The top speed of species allows them to travel long distances and helps them to catch prey and escape the attack of predatory animals. Some of the top-speed species of the sea world have been explored in this article which will be helpful for you to understand the sea life more clearly.

About the author

Zubaria

I am a Scholar and a dedicated content writer. I am on a mission to stamp out the importance of one of the ocean's most fascinating and remarkable creatures, the sharks, and to let people know about their role in keeping the ecosystem in equilibrium.