A very large tropical shark which usually swims close to the surface. It is the largest known fish and feeds on tiny floating animals called plankton.
When a body of water or air moves in one direction, especially through another body of water or air which isn't moving as much. The ocean current is caused by a lot of different things, including the movement of the earth, the weather/wind, differences in temperature in different parts of the world, and the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth.
A measurement of weight that is equal to 1,000 kilograms. It would take about 12-15 regular adults to weigh as much as a tonne!
A free-floating ocean creature with a jelly-like body. Is usually see-through, round or bell-shaped, and has stinging tentacles (arms) around the edge of its body.
Tiny living things (organisms) that drift and float in water. Plankton can be plants, animals, or other types of organism. They are an important source of food for large sea animals such as fish and whales.
Orca, or maki and kākahi in Māori, are also known as ‘killer whale.' They are a large black and white 'toothed whales' that are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. Orca are apex predators, which means no other animal in the sea hunts and eats them. They have a large dorsal (back) fin and live in groups that hunt seals, fish, and penguin together. They can be found all over the world, including in New Zealand waters.
A seal that lives in the Pacific ocean. Sea lions and fur seals are both mammals, but sea lions are usually larger than fur seals and don't have thick underfur. Another way to tell the difference between them is that sea lions have ear flaps (ears) on the side of their heads, while fur seals don't.
Someone who dives underwater and uses a spear (a long stick with a sharp tip at the end) to catch fish.
A large fish that lives in Australian and New Zealand coastal waters. It is greenish grey to silvery underneath and spotted with brown. Kahawai is a Māori name meaning 'brave' or strong' (kaha) + 'water' (wai), which refers to how the kahawai will jump and fight when caught.
Something vulnerable is something that is in danger or at risk of being hurt. A vulnerable species is a type of animal or plant that might die out unless we take special care to help them survive. Species often become vulnerable when their habitat (home) is destroyed. The group that keeps a list of all the vulnerable species in the world is called the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
