Virginia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, which is a diverse habitat for many creatures. Keep reading to learn more about some of the animals that call the ocean home.

Orcas

These killer whales can be found in all oceans, including the Atlantic ocean. They are highly intelligent and have the second largest brain, after sperm whales. They mostly thrive in colder waters but some can be found in tropical and or subtropical waters. They are apex predators but their diet is determined by where they live. They hunt pretty much everything like fish, humpback whales, sea lions and great white sharks. The average lifespan for a male is 30 years and for females it’s 80. Orcas are great communicators and coordinators which make them have staggering hunting strategies.

The Great White Shark

The Great White shark lives all over the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Maine to the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. However, they are also found in the coastal surfaces of all oceans. These sharks are curious and show intelligence, and are social creatures. Since they are apex predators and are carnivorous, they eat things like fish, tuna, dolphins, and whales among other things.

Green Sea Turtle

The Green Sea Turtle is the fastest sea turtle and also the largest. They can reach up to 40 miles per hour while they are swimming. They are likely to have good vision and they see many colors. They mainly eat algae and seagrasses and live for about 60 to 70 years. Unlike the shark or the orca, sea turtles live a pretty solitary life, and they aren’t very social. A fun fact about them is that they nest on the same beach where they were hatched!

Atlantic Stingray

The Atlantic Stingray is one of the smallest stingray species. Their diet is made up of marine worms, small fishes, shrimp, crabs and more. They don’t have any bones in their bodies, as their bodies are made up of flexible cartilage. These marine animals are non aggressive and typically curious, they usually have friendly and gentle interactions with humans.