The oceans of the world are home to an unimaginable variety of species. We have barely scratched the surface with regards to the exact number of plants and animals that live beneath the waves. For some of the most unique ocean habitats, here is a list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Madagascar<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Yes, that Madagascar. Although this island off the coast of Africa is well-known for having an extensive number of land-dwelling species such as lemurs, tortoises, geckos and chameleons to name a few, it also has an incredibly diverse and unique marine ecosystem. With over 3000 miles of coastline as well as 250 islands where some of the biggest systems of coral reefs in the world can be found, it\u2019s home to living fossils. This is because some species of catfish, cichlides, silversides and more found there are some of the oldest in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Mesoamerican Reef<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Found in the Caribbean Sea as well as some parts of Mexico and Belize to start with, the Mesoamerican Reef has the largest barrier reef within the Western Hemisphere. From the Yucatan Peninsula, it spans 700 miles until it reaches the Honduran Bay Islands. Anyone who has ever seen this area can attest to the beautiful range of corals and marine life which are homes to hundreds of species of fish, turtles and even sharks. Mangroves also grow along the coastline, which are then the habitats of several species of fish as well as shorebirds while also protecting the environment from damages incurred by storms.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. The Coral Triangle<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Located in the western Pacific Ocean, The Coral Triangle is a shared area between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands. With over 600 reef-building coral species, six out of the seven marine turtles in the world are being sheltered in the region. Over 2000 reef fish species can be found in The Coral Triangle as well, including tuna that plays an important commercial aspect in many of the surrounding nations. Unfortunately, the multi-billion dollar fishing industry has created an unsustainable atmosphere which threatens marine life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Coastal East Africa<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Encompassing the land and sea aspects that include grasslands and mangroves which fringed coral reefs, Coastal East Africa spans from Kenya all the way to Mozambique. Here, you will find such marine wildlife as the famous dugong, the giant whale sharks, dolphins, whales as well as five sea turtle species. More than that, shrimps and tuna are also found in this area and they play an integral role in the seafood and fishing industry worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. The Gulf Of California<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Perhaps one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, the Gulf of California is home to numerous species of sharks, reef fish, turtles and whales. The vaquita porpoise which is the smallest in the world can also be found in this gulf which stretches over 900 miles from the shores of San Diego to Guadalajara. The region also happens to be an important source of livelihood for Mexico where they haul such things as sardines, shrimps and even giant squids. Tuna as well as billfishes can also be harvested in this area, which is a major attraction among those into sport fishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. The Galapagos<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Now we\u2019re touching on one of the more famous marine ecosystems, or just ecosystems in general, the Galapagos Islands. Found more than 600 miles off the Ecuadorean coast, this collection of volcanic islands became famous after Charles Darwin came back after visiting there and right after introduced the Theory of Evolution. Home to diverse species of plants as well as wildlife both on land and in the water, this is a priceless ecosystem. Among some of the species found there are sea lions, the giant land tortoise, great white sharks, leatherback turtles, the Sei Whale and the Galapagos penguin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. The Arctic<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Geographically speaking, the Arctic touches on several countries including the USA, Canada, Russia and Greenland. In this frozen landscape full of ice sheets, frosted mounted, rivers and upland tundra, many species thrive. This is where the well-known polar bears are found. In terms of marine life though, this region attracts an amazing array of wildlife such as gray whales, pacific salmons and of course, seals. Local communities depend on the salmons in particular for their food and livelihood.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The oceans of the world are home to an unimaginable variety of species. We have barely scratched the surface with regards to the exact number of plants and animals that live beneath the waves. For some of the most unique ocean habitats, here is a list.\u00a0 1. Madagascar Yes, that Madagascar. Although this island off the coast of Africa is well-known for having an extensive number of land-dwelling species such as lemurs, tortoises, geckos and chameleons to name a few, it also has an incredibly diverse and unique marine ecosystem. With over 3000 miles of coastline as well as 250 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28059,"featured_media":10369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4048],"tags":[225,4066],"yoast_head":"\n