Coastal Animals (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what the animals of the coast are and give you examples from the coasts of Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and the Mediterranean Sea.

coastal animals hawksbill turtle — The hawksbill turtle is one of the endangered sea turtles.

What are the animals of the coast?

The coast is the part of a continent or an island that borders the sea, ocean or other body of water of great extension. It presents varied landscapes that can be rocky or sandy and that can be modified by various factors such as climate, wind, waves, tide, biological activity and human activity.

Regarding this last factor, in 1988 the Spanish Coastal Law was created in order to preserve this type of unique and natural spaces from overexploitation by humans.

The coastal habitat oscillates between the open air and the bottom of the sea where there are numerous species of terrestrial and marine animals. Some animals live in the sea and only go to land to lay their eggs (like the hawksbill turtle).

Depending on the latitude and the area in which the coasts are located, different types of animals live such as seagulls, dolphins, whales, iguanas, parakeets, parrots, howler monkeys and penguins.

Animals of the Mexican coast

The Mexican coast extends over the west of the country along with numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean and, to the east, over the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico region (where a basin is formed between the coastlines of Mexico, the United States and Cuba).

Due to its location close to the equator, Mexico has a tropical and temperate climate, which allows numerous and varied species to live on its coasts, such as the flamingo, the iguana, the turtle, the squid, the ocelot, the tarantula and the shark. The great biodiversity in the Gulf area stands out in particular.

Among other animals that inhabit the Mexican coast, the following stand out:

The little pig Also called “vaquita de mar”, it is a cetacean relative of the whale and the dolphin, which can reach one and a half meters in length and weigh up to 50 kilograms. It feeds on fish and shrimp. It is one of the most endangered species in the world, which is in danger of extinction.
The Guadalupe fur seal It is a mammal that lives only on the island of Guadeloupe. Its fur is thick and dark brown. Around 1900 it was believed to be extinct as a result of illegal fur hunting. Starting in 1928, the Mexican government implemented measures to protect it that were essential to save it.
The manatee Also known as a “sea cow,” it is similar to a whale, but smaller. Its skin is gray, its tail is spoon-shaped and it has whiskers on its snout. It is nocturnal and feeds on water plants. He has a very good sense of sight and smell.
The spider monkey Its name is due to the length of its limbs. It is diurnal and sleeps on the branches of trees, which it selects carefully so as not to be caught by possible predators, such as snakes. It is capable of making a wide variety of sounds similar to the barking of a dog.
The unicorn peacock It is a species of galliform bird that lives in the humid forests of the south. It can measure up to 85 centimeters tall and is characterized by having a red horn on its head. Its plumage is blue-black and shiny, with a white stripe down the middle of the tail. It feeds on fruits and leaves.

Animals of the Peruvian coast

The Peruvian coast extends over the Pacific Ocean, in the southern hemisphere of America, and is divided into three parts:

The north coast It has a semi-tropical climate with an average temperature of 24 degrees.
The central coast It has a subtropical climate with an average temperature of 19 degrees.
The south coast It has an average temperature of 17 degrees.

Animals of the Ecuadorian coast

The Ecuadorian coast extends over the Pacific Ocean and part of the Andes mountain range. It is an area protected by the government of Ecuador for being one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world with unique fauna and flora.

More and more species are in danger of extinction, such as the Andean toucan, the giant armadillo, the pink dolphin, the harpy eagle, the jaguar and the spectacled bear.

Among other animals that inhabit the Ecuadorian coast, the following stand out:

The Galapagos sea lion It is a mammal that only lives in the Galapagos Islands region. It differs from the California sea lion in its larger size and more elongated snout. Its diet is carnivorous and, in particular, it eats sardines and some crustaceans.
The marine iguana It is a reptile endemic to the Galapagos Islands and the only lizard that depends on sea water, as it feeds on algae. The male has the ability to swim while the female and the young remain on the rocks and wait for the tide to rise so they can eat. Its skin is dark in color, which allows it to camouflage among the stones.
The howler monkey It is typical of tropical regions and one of the largest in the Latin American rainforest, which can reach a height of one meter and its tail can measure the same. Its name is due to the fact that it emits strong vocalizations that look like howls.
The white-faced monkey Also known as “capuchin”, it lives in forest areas of the Caribbean lowlands and spends much of the day on trees. Its main characteristic is dark fur combined with white on part of the chest and face.
The brown pelican of the Galapagos It is a variety of pelican endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Its fur is dark gray and brown, its beak light gray and its head white. During the breeding season its beak turns pink and its head white.
The humpback whale It is usually seen on the Ecuadorian coast between the months of June and September. It can measure up to 16 meters long and weigh 40 tons. It makes sounds or songs that would be related to the mating season.
The macanchi viper It is a venomous snake of grayish and brown color, with spots. It is nocturnal and during the day it remains hidden under dry or wet trunks, among leaves and vegetation. It feeds on reptiles, such as lizards, or small mammals.
The earwig gull It is a bird endemic to the Galapagos Islands and the only nocturnal gull in the world. Its plumage is light gray, except for the head, which is dark gray and it has a three-color beak: white, gray and black. It feeds mostly on squid that usually rise to the surface at night.
The warm water penguin It is one of the smallest species, which can reach a height of 20 centimeters and only lives in this region. Its fur is characterized by having white in the eye, throat and belly area. They usually live as a couple, with the same company throughout their lives.
The Galapagos tortoise It is the largest of the land turtle species and can measure up to 2 meters long and weigh 400 kilograms. It also stands out for being one of the oldest animals: it can exceed 150 years of age.

Animals of the Mediterranean coast

The Mediterranean Sea encompasses the things of several countries in Europe, North Africa and part of Asia. It represents the home for the most diverse marine fauna in the world.