The ocean covers more than two-thirds of Earth's surface and is home to between 700,000 and one million species — from the blue whale, the world's largest mammal, to the tiniest of microorganisms, all thriving in an endless cycle of life. With World Oceans Day on June 8 just around the corner, Animal Planet is responding to the United Nations' 2020 World Oceans Day theme — "Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean" — with a special prime-time broadcast of its World Oceans Day Special, plunging viewers into the unfathomable blue to witness rare marine animal behaviours and the rich ecosystems of the deep. Do sperm whales barely sleep? Do orcas eavesdrop on one another? Could jellyfish hold the secret to immortality? Starting June 15, every Monday at 8 p.m., join Animal Planet's brand-new series Ocean Universe and explore the incredible world beneath the waves!
Sperm whales perceive the world through sound, making them arguably the loudest creatures on Earth. They communicate using clicks that can carry messages hundreds of kilometres away.
Sperm Whales Are the "Loudest Creatures on Earth"! Sea Otters Crowned "Tiny Big Eaters"?!
The sperm whale is the world's largest toothed whale, spending only 7% of its day — roughly 1.7 hours — asleep, far less than any other mammal. Unlike humans, sperm whales perceive the world through sound, earning them the title of the loudest creatures on Earth. They communicate using clicks that can carry messages hundreds of kilometres away. These clicks are emitted from the tip of their nose, bounce off objects, and return as echoes — a built-in echolocation system that allows them not only to chat with companions but also to hunt their favourite prey: squid. It's the ultimate two-birds-one-stone communication system: rounding up friends and finding dinner all at once.
Sea otters eat up to 30% of their body weight in food each day — the equivalent of a 50 kg man consuming 15 kg of food in a single day.
Sharing the ocean with these giants is the world's smallest marine mammal — the sea otter — weighing just 4.5 kg and measuring about 1 m in length. Sea otters have an extremely fast metabolism and must constantly take in calories to stay warm, as they carry very little body fat. To survive in the frigid waters of the southern Pacific Ocean, they must hunt at least 7 times a day. Most remarkably, they consume up to 30% of their body weight in food every single day — the equivalent of a 50 kg man eating 15 kg of food in one day. Never judge a book by its cover!
The tentacles of a box jellyfish are lined with nematocysts — each one a trigger-ready stinging trap. Once the stinger pierces the skin and venom enters the body, paralysis and even death can follow.
The Immortal Jellyfish Can Cheat Death?! One Box Jellyfish Carries Enough Venom to Kill 60 People!
Humans have long fantasised about unlocking the secret to immortality — and according to Animal Planet, the answer is simple: become a jellyfish. Like most living things, jellyfish do die. But there is one extraordinary exception that skips the dying part altogether: the Turritopsis dohrnii, commonly known as the immortal jellyfish. Not only does it not die, it actually grows younger over time, cycling endlessly between juvenile and adult stages. Its method of rejuvenation is equally astonishing: it collapses into a soft, formless cyst and sinks to the ocean floor, where it transforms into a polyp colony. That colony then produces hundreds of genetically identical baby jellyfish — perfect copies of the original adult — and in just 30 days, the rejuvenated jellyfish is ready to begin the entire cycle again. Enviable, isn't it?
The box jellyfish is arguably the most terrifying creature in the sea — they can be as small as a fingernail or longer than an entire elephant.
Then there is the box jellyfish — arguably the most terrifying creature in the ocean. They can be as small as a fingernail or longer than an entire elephant. Like other jellyfish, their bodies are 95% water, and they have no brain, heart, eyes, or teeth. What makes them truly extraordinary — and deadly — is that the venom of a single box jellyfish is enough to kill 60 people, making it 100 times more toxic than a cobra. Their tentacles are studded with nematocysts, each one a precision stinging trap: the moment anything brushes against a nematocyst, it fires in one-millionth of a second — faster than the time it takes a bullet to leave a gun barrel. Once the stinger pierces the skin and venom floods the body, paralysis — and potentially death — follow. A perfect reminder that some things are best admired from a distance.
The ocean is teeming with countless creatures, each harbouring secrets yet to be discovered. Animal Planet's "Animal Quiz" series has launched a special World Oceans Day campaign — "How Well Do You Know Ocean Animals?" — running from June 8 to June 21. Log in, answer questions, and share your results over two consecutive weeks for a chance to win an eco-friendly straw set, a Discovery tote bag, or even a handmade ocean-themed soap crafted by underwater goddess Li Pei-yu (Da Pei) herself! Join the Animal Quiz and open up a whole new world of knowledge!
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Animal Quiz website: http://bit.ly/2QMHHzQ
