Seas
Bays
Africa:
Asia:
Australia & Oceania:
Largest tributaries
Africa:
Asia:
Australia & Oceania:
Perciformes - Perches
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Gadiformes - Cods
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Carangiformes - Jacks
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Labriformes - Wrasses
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Coelacanthiformes - Coelacanths
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world, covering 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi) or 19.8% of the water on surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by the Southern Ocean or Antarctica, depending on the definition in use. Along its core, the Indian Ocean has some large marginal or regional seas such as the Arabian Sea, the Laccadive Sea, the Somali Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea.
Rivers
The Indian Ocean drainage basin covers 21,100,000 km2 (8,100,000 sq mi), virtually identical to that of the Pacific Ocean and half that of the Atlantic basin, or 30% of its ocean surface (compared to 15% for the Pacific).
The Indian Ocean drainage basin is divided into roughly 800 individual basins, half that of the Pacific, of which 50% are located in Asia, 30% in Africa, and 20% in Australasia.
The rivers of the Indian Ocean are shorter on average (740 km (460 mi)) than those of the other major oceans.
The largest rivers are (order 5) the Zambezi, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Indus, Jubba, and Murray rivers and the Shatt al-Arab, Wadi Ad Dawasir (a dried-out river system on the Arabian Peninsula) and Limpopo rivers.
After the breakup of East Gondwana and the formation of Himalayas, the Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers flowed into the largest delta on the world – Bengal delta.
Marginal seas
Along the east coast of Africa, the Mozambique Channel separates Madagascar from mainland Africa, while the Sea of Zanj is located north of Madagascar.
On the northern coast of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden is connected to the Red Sea by the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. In the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Tadjoura is located in Djibouti and the Guardafui Channel separates Socotra island from the Horn of Africa.
The northern end of the Red Sea terminates in the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez.
The Indian Ocean is artificially connected to the Mediterranean Sea without ship lock through the Suez Canal, which is accessible via the Red Sea.
The Arabian Sea is connected to the Persian Gulf by the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. In the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Bahrain separates Qatar from the Arabic Peninsula.
Along the west coast of India, the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat are located in Gujarat in the northern end while the Laccadive Sea separates the Maldives from the southern tip of India.
The Bay of Bengal is off the east coast of India. The Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India, while the Adam Bridge separates the two.
The Andaman Sea is located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Islands.
In Indonesia, the so-called Indonesian Seaway is composed of the Malacca, Sunda and Torres Straits.
The Gulf of Carpentaria of located on the Australian north coast, while the Great Australian Bight constitutes a large part of its southern coast.
Arabian Sea – 3.862 million km2
Bay of Bengal – 2.172 million km2
Andaman Sea – 797,700 km2
Laccadive Sea – 786,000 km2
Mozambique Channel – 700,000 km2
Timor Sea – 610,000 km2
Red Sea – 438,000 km2
Gulf of Aden – 410,000 km2
Persian Gulf – 251,000 km2
Flores Sea – 240,000 km2
Molucca Sea – 200,000 km2
Oman Sea – 181,000 km2
Great Australian Bight – 45,926 km2
Gulf of Aqaba – 239 km2
Gulf of Khambhat
Gulf of Kutch
Gulf of Suez
