Fishy Extremes

There’s a big, bright, beautiful world beneath the surface of the ocean, just brimming with life. Some fish display a rainbow of colours, and some like to blend in with the sand. Some enjoy nibbling on plants, while others are fierce predators. But one thing is for certain: there are some incredible extremes of life beneath the waves.

The biggest fish in the world is the whale shark. When it’s fully grown, it can measure over 50 feet long! You might think that such a large shark is a ferocious predator, but it actually doesn’t use its teeth at all. Instead, the shark filters tiny microscropic creatures called plankton through its gills.

The smallest fish is a newly discovered kind of carp from Sumatra. At only 7.9 mm long, it’s actually the smallest vertebrate, or animal with a backbone, in the world! The waters of the swamps are so acidic, it’s like swimming through vinegar!

The fastest fish in the ocean is the sailfish, which can travel at speeds up to 68 miles per hour. The distictive sail on its back is folded down for swimming, so its sharp swordlike bill and streamlined shape let it slice quickly through the water.

The most venemous fish in the ocean is the Australian stonefish. All the more deadly because it looks exactly like a stone on the bottom of the sea, the stonefish has 13 sharp spines along its back. Stepping on it causes venom to be released along each spine, and if not treated within 2-3 hours, can be fatal! Ouch!