5 Marine Animals and Mini-Me!

Photo credit: Wikimedia

Is there anything cuter than a newborn?

We didn’t think so. That’s why you’re going to dedicate the next five minutes to enjoy these adorable marine animals, and their even cuter “minis.”

1. Let’s get this party started with a little love for the sea otters!

FUN FACT: Pregnancy in sea otters last between 5 and 8 months, and they can have up to one pup each year.

2. Jaws 2 (might need some extra dinner to get a little bigger)

Ok, we’ll admit that most people are afraid of sharks, and wouldn’t say they find them attractive. But seriously, look at this little guy!

FUN FACT: Conception, pregnancy and birth in different shark species can be very different. There are three known shark species that can reproduce without mating through parthenogenesis.

3. Seahorses? Not sure there’s anything cooler to look at.

When we look at this picture, the first thing that came to mind….boop!

FUN FACT: In case you didn’t know, the male seahorse carries the babies. A female seahorse transfers her eggs to her mate, who fertilizes them and carries the child for two to four weeks. Unfortunately for those guys, giving birth is tedious, with contractions that can last up to 12 hours. Yikes!

4. DOLPHINS!

You may have heard that dolphins – being mammals – have a lot in common with humans, like having hair. Baby dolphins are born with whiskers on their jaw that falls out soon after birth.

But here’s a FUN FACT: Dolphins are pregnant for 12 months! And then they nurse their young for another year, if not more!

5. These penguins are here to party.

Check out this adorable penguin family! You may already know a little about penguins from various movies like Happy Feet.

It’s true that penguins lay eggs and protect them until they hatch. Some species build nest with feathers, but the Emperor Penguin incubates the egg with the top of their feet. FUN FACT: Its usually the male that protects the egg while the female hunts for food, so pudgier men are most desirable.

It’s so fascinating to see the relationships between sea critters and their offspring, and only makes us love them more!

And just for fun, here’s a baby mermaid.