Fish Facts

Animals with some of the longest lives are the Marion’s tortoise (152 years), the fin whale (116 years) and the deep-sea clam (100 years).

The largest member of the dolphin family is called an orca or killer whale.

There are about 40 species or kinds of porpoises and dolphins.

Porpoises and dolphins communicate with each other by squeaking, growling, moaning, and whistling.

Flying fish actually glide on wind currents above the surface of the water, sometimes up to 20 feet above the surface.

Starfish can have up to 16 arms!

The 14-foot-long narwhal is a whale whose tooth can reach up to eight feet long!

Dolphins sleep with one eye open!

The blue whale, the largest animal to have ever existed, is 96 feet long and weights 125 tons. This is as much as 4 large dinosaurs (Brontosauri), 23 elephants, 230 cows or 1800 men.

When an octopus gets angry, it shoots a stream of black "ink".

Minnows have teeth located on a bone in their throat.

The smallest fish in the world are the pygmy goby and the Luzon goby, from the Philippines, which are only one-half-inch long when they are full grown.

The world's largest rodent is the Capybara. An Amazon water hog that looks like a guinea pig, it can weigh more than 100 pounds.

A newly hatched fish is called a "fry."

At 188 decibels, the whistle of the blue whale is the loudest sound produced by any animal.