Even though the total freshwater ecosystem is less than 0.01% of the planet’s surface water, it can still support over 125,000 species. This number includes both aquatic and semi-aquatic animals. Naturally, the most common freshwater animal is the fish. But we shouldn’t drag this introduction! After all, we’re about to present more than 50 animals that live and prosper in the freshwater biome. As such, get your table-reading (or search) skills ready as you’re about to be blasted away with fresh(water) information!
50+ Animals That Call the Freshwater Biome Their Habitat
Before we begin, it’s essential to explain exactly what a biome is. Looking at freshwater, some might think that only animals living in this type of water can be mentioned in the table below. However, per the definition, a biome is a large area characterized by vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife. As such, while the heron doesn’t spend its whole life in freshwater bodies as it’s not a very good swimmer, this bird is tied to this particular biome – as its main food sources live in freshwater. In short, if a species is tied to the freshwater biome one way or another, it will most likely end up being mentioned in a table like the one below. After all, there’s so much more to the freshwater biome than just fish and aquatic animals! Before discussing more than 50 freshwater animals, it’s essential to mention that not all species in the genera mentioned below reside in freshwater habitats. At the same time, some can be found in both marine and freshwater environments.
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