Plankton
Phytoplankton and zooplankton form the base of the marine food web. Filter feeders such as jellyfish, baleen whales, and some fish consume plankton.
Fish
Predatory fish like tuna and salmon eat smaller fish. Herbivorous fish such as parrotfish eat algae. Omnivorous fish like cod eat both plants and animals.
Marine Mammals
Seals, sea lions, and dolphins have varied diets. Leopard seals hunt penguins and fish, while manatees eat seagrass.
Sea Turtles
Green turtles are herbivorous, eating seagrass and algae. Loggerhead and hawksbill turtles are carnivorous, eating jellyfish, sponges, and crustaceans.
Crustaceans
Crabs, shrimp, and lobsters may be scavengers, predators, or omnivores.
Mollusks
Clams filter food from water, while squids use tentacles to capture prey.
Seabirds
Albatrosses and petrels eat fish; gulls are opportunistic feeders that eat fish, insects, and waste.
Marine Reptiles
Sea snakes eat fish; marine iguanas eat marine algae.
Marine life displays a wide range of dietary preferences reflecting ocean biodiversity.