You can not get enough of these cute and amazing-looking pink ocean animals. They come in all shapes, sizes, species. From Pink dolphins to pink jellyfish, the sea is just full of these beauties.
10 Fascinatingly Cute Pink Sea Creatures
Table of contents
1. Pink Manta Ray
The world’s only Pink Manta-Ray is spotted in Australian waters around Lady Elliot Island. It was first photographed and brought to the world’s attention by Kristian Laine.
A skin biopsy in 2016 confirmed the color to not be due to any illness or diet. The pink color is now believed to be the result of a genetic mutation leading to the processing of melanin differently.
Nicknamed Inspector Clouseau, it has been spotted only around 10 times to date.
2. Amazon River Dolphin (Pink Dolphin)
Amazon river dolphins live only in freshwater, so technically they are not sea creatures. They are also known as pink river dolphins or Botos. It is estimated that over ten thousand of these pink mammals inhabit the world.
These dolphins are born grey in color and slowly turn pink when older. They come in all shades of pink. The color primarily depends on food, exposure to sunlight behavior.
| Size | 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in length (approx) |
| Weight | Up to 185 kilograms (408 lb) |
| Lifespan | 33 months in the wild. up to 30 years in captivity |
| Diet | Primarily fish |
| Habitat: | Primarily Amazon river in South America |
Fun Facts:
- Amazon river dolphin has the largest body or brain of all the fresh water Dolphins.
- Some scientists believe that Botos’ pink color is from the battle scar tissue. Hence they turn pinker with age as they accumulate lots of scar tissues.
- They are also found in the Orinoco River basin and the upper Madeira River.
- The Pink dolphins are known to flush a brighter pink color when excited.
- They can turn their head 180 degrees.
3. Axolotl
This cute pink salamander is seen in aquariums around the world. Axolotls are amphibians. Unlike other amphibians, they keep their gills and live underwater.
They also have lungs and occasionally use their lungs to breathe in the water surface. Their color varies from pink to brownish.
| Size | 23 cm (9 in.) in length |
| Weight | Up to 300 g (8 oz) |
| Lifespan | 10+ years |
| Diet | small fish, worms, mollusks, insects, etc |
| Habitat: | Lake Xochimilco, outside of Mexico city |
Fun Facts:
- Axolotl can regrow missing body parts.
- A female axolotl lay somewhere between 300-1000 eggs.
- It is a very popular pet and found in aquariums around the world.
- The shape of its mouth gives it a smiling face.
In News:
Tiny salamander’s huge genome may harbor the secrets of regeneration – Read here
4. Pygmy Seahorse
Pygmy Seahorse lives exclusively on the gorgonian corals at 16-40 meters deep of the Indo-West Pacific. They blend with their habitat really well and can not be found easily.
Depending on the host gorgonian’s color, it can be orange in color as well.
| Size | 0.55 to 1.06 inches (1.4 to 2.7 cm) |
| Weight | Very less, around a few rice grains |
| Lifespan | 1-5 years |
| Diet | possibly small crustaceans, yet more research is needed. |
| Habitat: | Indo-West Pacific |
Fun Facts:
- Male pygmy seahorses have a pouch on their trunk to give birth.
- It was discovered in 1969 while examining a gorgonian coral.
- They do not posses vocal chords. Instead communicate through physical cues and chemicals.
- Till date there are 9 species of pygmy seahorses found.
In News:
Newly discover Pygmy seahorse species – Read here
5. Nudibranch
Nudibranch is a boneless slime-oozing creature. Over 3000 species of them exist in the world.
It is considered one of the most beautiful animals in the world. Nudibranch can be from dark purple to bright white.
| Size | Up to 12 inches |
| Weight | Maximum 3.3 pounds |
| Lifespan | Vary – one month to one year |
| Diet | coral, sponges, fish eggs etc found in the ocean floor |
| Habitat: | Shallow, tropical waters |
Fun Facts:
- Nudibranch absorbs pigments from its prey and display them.
- Some nudibranch also absorn toxin from their prey and release them.
- Nudibranch has a pair of tentacles called rhinophores on their head. It helps them smell food. Nudibranch can withdraw and hide them in the pocket of their skin.
- They move at a speed of 10m per day.
- Some Nudibranch can make sound that are audible to humans.
In News:
Nudibranchs help scientists – read here.
6. Hairy Squat Lobster
They are also known as pink squat lobster.
| Size | around .5 inch |
| Weight | 10-20 gm |
| Lifespan | 6 months – 3 years |
| Diet | plankton, detritus or dead animals |
| Habitat: | Coral and rocky reefs in the western Indo-Pacific oceans |
Fun Facts:
- Squat Lobseter are the only lobster with ability to live in saltwater
- Less than 10000 of these animals are found in the world.
- They use their hairy antennas to communicate.
In News:
7. Pink Starfish
They are also known as Pink Sea Star. Their body typically consists of a central disc and five arms.
| Size | 20-28 inches |
| Weight | Up to 9 pounds |
| Lifespan | up to 35 years |
| Diet | sand dollars, polychaetes, mussels, clams, etc |
| Habitat: | Subtidal areas, Pacific Coast of North America |
Fun Facts:
- They have no brain and blood.
- Most Pink starfish can regenerate damaged body parts or arms.
- They have the capability to shed their arms in defence.
- It is one of the world’s largest sea star.
8. Pink Skunk Clownfish
Pink Skunk Clownfish, also known as Pink Skunk Anemonefish has colors ranging from pink to peach with a single white stripe.
The color vary slightly based on geographic location, host, and sex. The species is more delicate than other Anemonefish.
| Size | 4 inches |
| Lifespan | 21 years in captivity |
| Diet | zooplankton, benthic worms, tunicates, and algae |
| Habitat: | seaward reefs and brackish marine water on lagoons |
Fun Facts:
- Pink Skunk clownfish are known to fall ill when troubled by other fishes in the aquarium.
- They are a popular pet.
- Male Pink Skunk clownfish has black bands on their tail fin, females have white bands.
- They are commonly found in the water of Indian Ocean.
- The females lay between 24-72 eggs every three days.
9. Pink Frogfish
Pink Frogfish is one of the common pets and seen around aquariums.
| Size | 6 inches |
| Weight | about 0.07 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 20 years in the wild |
| Diet | Fish and crustaceans, or even other frogfish of the same species |
| Habitat: | Tropical and subtropical water (Indo-Pacific ocean and the Red sea) |
Fun Facts:
- Frogfish has flexible bones that allow them to swallow fish double its size.
- They have the fastest strike speed (1/6000 of a second) of all the animals of the world.
- Male pink frogfosh attach eggs to themselves.
- They can change color and camouflage easily.
- Frogfish has modified fins which can double up as legs. They most of the times choose to work instead of swiming.
10. Pink Jellyfish
Pink Jellyfish, also known as ‘Pink meanie’ are rare to sight. They were first spotted in the Gulf of Mexico.
The only two found till date have been accidental finds. Find more details on the latest discovery here.
| Size | up to 3 feet, with their tentacles reaching 70 feet |
| Lifespan | 9 months |
| Diet | other jellyfish, especially moon jellyfish |
| Habitat: | Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean |
Fun Facts:
- Jellyfish has no brain, still they can sleep.
- It can devour more than 30 moon jellyfish at one time.
- Pink meanie stings, just like other jellyfish.
- They have more than 150 tentacles.
In News:
Pink Meanie sighting – read here
