Aquatic animal
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Gaius Cornelius
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An '''aquatic animal''' is an [[animal]] which lives in water for most or all of the time. [[Natural environment]]s are classified as either aquatic (water), [[terrestrial ecoregion|terrestrial]] (land), or [[amphibious]] (water and land). The term "aquatic animal" can be applied to [[aquatic mammal|aquatic or sea mammals]] such as those in the order [[Cetacea]] ([[whale]]s), which cannot survive on land, as well as four-footed [[mammal]]s like the river [[otter]] ([[Lutra]] canadensis) and beavers (family [[Castoridae]]). It also includes aquatic [[bird]]s that either swim, wade or dive on the water itself. These include for example the seabirds, such as gulls (family [[Laridae]]), pelicans (family [[Pelecanidae]]), and albatrosses (family [[Diomedeidae]]), and most of the [[Anseriformes]] (ducks, swans and geese).
[[amphibia|Amphibious]] and amphibiotic animals, like [[frog]]s (the order [[Anura]]), while they do require water, are separated into their own environmental classification. The majority of amphibians (class [[Amphibia]]) have an aquatic [[larvae|larval]] stage, like a [[tadpole]], but then live as terrestrial adults, and may return to the water to [[mate]].
Aquatic animals are often of special concern to [[Conservation ethic|conservation]]ists because of the fragility of their environments.
[[Category:Zoology]]
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[[mr:जलचर प्राणी]]
[[pt:Animal aquático]]
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