4 Life Cycles of Marine Animals Scientists believe that all life on Earth began in the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago Today thousands of different animal species live in and around the ocean No one knows exactly how many different species of marine animals there are hundreds of new species are discovered every year Although they share the same saltwater habitat all marine animals grow and change differently over time Each species has its own unique life cycle The life cycles of marine animals can be as different as the animals themselves Life Cycles All living things have a life cycle An animal’s life cycle begins when it is born and is completed when it has young of its own During their life cycles different species grow and change in different ways Everything an animal does throughout its life cycle happens so that it can survive long enough to reproduce Without this circle of life all living things would become extinct
5 Laysan Albatross Laysan albatross are one of more than 20 species of albatross They are seabirds that glide over the open ocean in search of food Laysan albatross are excellent flyers and will travel huge distances during the course of their life cycle Albatross Are Birds Albatross are some of the largest birds in the world Birds are warm-blooded animals that have wings and lay eggs All albatross are excellent long-distance flyers Like other birds albatross lay eggs and care for their chicks until they are old enough to fly Searching the Oceans Laysan albatross spend most of their lives flying over the ocean searching for prey This endless search for food can take them thousands of miles away from their island homes Young albatross may not return to land for several years Laysan albatross spend most of their life cycle far from land using the wind and waves to glide for hours without flapping their wings
6 Wingspan more than 6 5 feet 2 meters Weight more than 6 5 pounds 3 kg Color white body and head with black wings VITAL STATISTICS waterproof feathers to stay dry even when diving underwater long sharp hooked beak for grabbing slippery fish and squid long thin wings for easy flight good eyesight for spotting small prey in rough waters and for seeing in the dark long flight feathers for lift during flight Laysan albatross are large birds but they are small compared to other albatross Their long thin wings are perfectly shaped for gliding Laysan albatross have hollow bones which keep their body light making it easier for them to fly good sense of smell to find food that is too far away to see What Do Laysan Albatross Look Like
7 Wandering albatross 11 5 feet 3 5 m Amsterdam albatross 11 2 feet 3 4 m Shy albatross 8 2 feet 2 5 m Short-tailed albatross 7 5 feet 2 3 m Laysan albatross 6 7 feet 2 03 m Sooty albatross 6 6 feet 2 0 m Wingspan Comparison The Albatross Family There are many different species of albatross All albatross have long thin wings and are great flyers They spend most of their time gliding close to the ocean’s surface The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird Look-alike Male and female Laysan albatross have the same color feathers and body shape so it is difficult to tell them apart
