10 Easter-Themed Ocean Animals You’ll Love

Published on 4/1/25

Written by Jessica Colla

Move over bunnies and jellybeans — the ocean has its own Easter magic! From rabbitfish to chocolate chip sea stars, these marine creatures bring serious springtime and holiday vibes. Here's a list of Easter-themed sea life that's too good not to share! 🐣🐇🍭

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1. Rabbitfish 🐇

With their wide-eyed expressions and bunny-like faces, rabbitfish are the ocean's very own Easter Bunny stand-ins. These herbivorous reef fish nibble on seaweed much like rabbits munching on clover, making them a perfect (and adorable) Easter connection!

2. Sea Hare 🐰

Long, floppy rhinophores (sensory organs that look like ears) give sea hares the look of underwater bunnies. These gentle, algae-grazing mollusks are famous for squirting purple ink when startled — like dying eggs!

3. Basket Sea Star 🧺

If you need a basket underwater, you'd probably borrow a basket star! These intricate, deep-ocean brittle stars unfurl lacy, coiled arms at night to catch plankton, resembling a beautifully woven Easter basket.

4. Angelfish 👼

Elegant and radiant, species in the angelfish family live up to their heavenly name. Their connection to Easter stems from Christian symbolism — angels represent rebirth, guidance, and hope; fitting themes for the season.

5. Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star 👑

While beautiful, this spiny, venomous sea star carries a deeper Easter tie: its name refers to the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus during the crucifixion. These giant sea stars are a solemn reminder of sacrifice and renewal — key themes of the traditional Easter celebration.

6. Egg Seashell Cowries 🥚

These glossy, round sea snails look just like tiny decorated Easter eggs hiding among the corals! Their smooth, shiny shells make them favorites for shell collectors — but remember: they're even better admired in the wild!

7. Chocolate Chip Sea Star 🍫

Forget candy bars — this sea star is nature’s version of a chocolate-studded dessert! Its tan body dotted with dark brown "chocolate chip morsels" looks just like a giant cookie, perfectly fitting the Easter candy spirit.

8. Candy Basslet 🍬

With rainbow stripes that could rival any Easter decoration, the deep-water candy basslet is one of the ocean's most vibrantly colored fish. It’s tiny, rare, and absolutely dazzling — like a living gummy candy!

9. Sea Bunny Nudibranch 🐇

Is it a marshmallow peep? A bunny? No — it’s a sea bunny nudibranch! This adorable, fuzzy-looking sea slug has tiny ear-like structures and a cute face, making it one of the most perfect Easter animals in the sea.

10. Lamb’s Lettuce Seaweed 🌱

Though technically a coastal edible plant rather than a true seaweed, lamb’s lettuce brings a fun Easter feast connection to the marine world. Associated with springtime and renewal, it’s the ocean’s answer to traditional Easter lamb dishes.

Bonus: Christ’s FISH symbol ✝️ – From Ancient Faith to Marine Science

Because Easter celebrates salvation, rebirth, and renewal, the Ichthys symbol connects closely to Easter. The Ichthys symbol — a simple fish outline — has deep roots in early Christianity. Ichthys (ἰχθύς) is the Greek word for "fish." The five Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ formed an acrostic for "Iēsous Christos Theou Yios Sōtēr," meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." Early Christians used the fish as a secret symbol during Roman persecution. Christians were often called "little fishes," born in water (baptism), symbolizing spiritual rebirth.

Today, the legacy of ichthys continues in science. Ichthyology, the study of fish, comes directly from the same Greek root (ichthys = fish, logos = study). From ancient secret symbols to modern marine biology, this little fish bridges faith, history and our fascination with life in the ocean.

happy easter!

Whether it's a bunny-faced fish or a candy-colored basslet, the ocean is full of creatures that echo the spirit of Easter. Next time you're exploring the tide pools, snorkeling a reef, or just daydreaming about the sea, see if you can spot some of nature’s hidden Easter treasures!

Did I forget an Easter animal in this list? Let me know in the comments below!

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