The Big and Small of It

Some of the largest creatures in the ocean eat some of the smallest creatures in the ocean and many are filter feeders.  In other words, just open your mouth and 'filter' or strain what's edible out of the water. Many filter feeders eat plankton - small plants or animals that float with the currents. So if you ever see any critters in the ocean swimming around with their mouth open, they are most likely having dinner.  The largest species of manta ray is the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray which can grow to up to 25 feet across and weigh over 5,000 pounds. They are also called Chevron Manta Rays because of the 'chevron' pattern on their shoulders. Because it is a filter feeder, fish know they have nothing to fear from this huge ray and sometimes hitch a ride or stay close for protection from predators.



Baleen whales are also filter feeders, equipped with baleen plates made of keratin (the same substance that fingernails and hair are made of) that do the filtering.

Baleen plates

Humpback whales are filter feeders, along with the largest animal on the planet, the blue whale.



Blue whales can be up almost 100 feet long and weigh up to 180 metric tons.  Hunted almost to extinction by whalers, there still may be only 12,000 left, but they are making a comeback with protection.  And what does this giant eat?  Its diet is almost exclusively krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean not even an inch long.

Which means that a blue whale can eat up to 40 MILLION A DAY.  Obviously there are a heck of a lot more krill in the ocean than blue whales!  An interesting twist is that krill are mainly filter feeders too and eat microscopic phytoplankton which can't be seen individually but if existing in high numbers may show up as pools of green water because of their chlorophyll..

There are three types of sharks that you don't have to worry about doing damage with big sharp teeth. Whale sharks are also filter feeders, as are megamouth sharks and basking sharks.  Basking sharks are the second largest fish on the planet next to whale sharks.

With its enlarged mouth and highly developed gill rakers it gathers zooplankton, small fish and crustaceans. Reaching up to 30 feet long, it is an impressive sight.

As they say, you can't judge a book by its cover!