Top 10 Cutest Underwater Animals
The internet is full of cute critter memes — we seem to have an insatiable appetite for doe-eyed, tiny, fluffy animals. But plenty of underwater animals make us say “aww” as well. In no particular order, here are our picks for the 10 cutest underwater animals, and they include everything from an octopus to a shark.
Number 10 - Dumbo Octopus
Who said octopus aren’t cute? Look at this little guy. The eyes, button nose and ear-like fins could put your pet bunny to shame. Because of fins that resemble the well-known fictional Disney elephant, we commonly know this cute little guy as the Dumbo octopus. At least 15 species of Dumbo octopus fall under the genus of deep-sea umbrella octopus and yes, they’re all this cute. Dumbo octopuses use their arms to steer while they forage for pelagic invertebrates to eat and face very few predators with the exception of some diving fish, including tuna and sharks. Unfortunately, there’s no chance you’ll see one on a dive, as they inhabit the deep ocean, down to depths of at least 13,000 feet, or 4,000 meters. In fact, they’re the deepest living of all known octopuses. Makes you wonder what other adorable creatures are hiding in the deep sea?
Number 9 - Pufferfish
Next on our list is the pufferfish. While there are many kinds, the porcupine pufferfish is of special note. When deflated, its big-eyed, seemingly smiling face will bring a grin to any diver’s face. Though this small critter may appear harmless, it can be dangerous. Some puffer species are among the most poisonous vertebrates on Earth, with internal organs containing tetrodotoxin, up to 1,200 times deadlier than cyanide. A combination of sharp spikes on its outer body and its ability to inflate to almost double its size means that this little fish has few natural predators. If you spot one on a dive, do not under any circumstance try to force it to artificially inflate just to see it puff up. As you can imagine, gulping lots of water stretches out the fish’s stomach as well as its skin. Swimming becomes very difficult for pufferfish when they’re blown up to three times their normal size. They are already not the most streamlined swimmers, which is why they have this defensive tactic in the first place, and the puffed-up fish has lost even more mobility. A puffed-up puffer will basically drift along until it returns to normal size.
Number 8 - Costasiella Kuroshimae Nudibranch
Any divers lucky enough to have seen the Costasiella kuroshimae nudibranch in person will know why it made our list. Its body and face resemble a woolly cartoon sheep, earning it the nickname “Shaun the Sheep.” They only grow to .2 inches, or 5 millmeters, and inhabit the Pacific in such places as Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. They’re also one of the only sea creatures in the world that can perform photosynthesis. When these little guys eat algae, they suck out the chloroplasts and incorporate them into their own bodies. Usually nearly impossible to spot, show gratitude to your dive guide if they can to scope out this cutie for you.
Number 7 - Beluga Whale
Next on our list of cuties is the beloved beluga whale, with a sweet, round face that also seems to be smiling. Belugas are the only white cetaceans, and exclusively inhabit Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. They possess a distinctive protuberance at the front of their heads called the melon, which holds an echolocation organ to help them seek out prey and navigate. They fall somewhere between a dolphin and true whales when it comes to size, with males growing up to 18 feet, or 5.5 meters long, and weighing up to 3,530 pounds, or 1,600 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller, clocking in at 10 to 14 feet, or 3 to 4 meters, and weighing between 1,500 and 2,600 pounds, or 700 and 1,200 kilograms. They are sociable animals and live in pods, communicating with each other using a diversified language of whistles and clicks. Because of their high-pitched calls, belugas are sometimes called the sea canaries.
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