Marine Neritic Animals

The marine environment hosts the majority of life on earth and the ocean zones extend from the intertidal zone to the abyssal plain. The greatest concentration of marine life exists in the neritic zone beginning at the low water mark to the edge of the continental shelf. This oceanic zone is well oxygenated, has stable salinity levels is constantly fertilized by terrestrial runoff and has a great concentration of sunlight penetration. Here, the first step in the food chain, the phytoplankton that is produced by photosynthesis can be found. The phytoplanton along with the zooplankton, from microscopic diatoms to small shrimp and copepods form the basis of oceanic life. The great baleen whales graze on endless pastures of this minute vegetable and animal life.

It is in the neritic zone that the world's fisheries harvest the majority of seafood for human consumption. Salmon, tuna, seabass, snapper and a multitude of other food fish live on either reefs or travel in a pelagic existence. Dolphins and porpoises feed on the plentiful baitfish and sharks patrol these waters in perpetual motion on a constant hunt. For human recreation the neritic zone provides the most sought after gamefish; marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi and tuna are plentiful and bluewater spearfishermen emulate marine mammals with breath hold dives in pursuit of their pelagic prey.

The neritic ocean zone is the cradle of life on earth; it is very fragile and can by no means provide perpetual sustenance under the onslaught of the blossoming human population.


Even-toed ungulates	Carnivores	Cetacea	Bats	Dasyuroids	Opossums	Sirenia	Primates	Fish	Reptiles	Amphibians	Birds

Marine Neritic Animals

Animals living in the Marine Neritic habitat

Carnivores

Dolphins, porpoises, and whales

Bats

Dugongs, manatees, and sea cows