Ma'anar ƙamus na "dabbobin ruwa" shine duk dabbar da ke rayuwa a cikin teku ko teku. Wannan na iya haɗawa da nau'ikan halittu iri-iri kamar kifi, kifaye, dolphins, sharks, dorinar ruwa, kaguwa, lobsters, kunkuru na ruwa, da sauran su. Wadannan dabbobin sun dace da rayuwa a cikin yanayin teku, wanda zai iya bambanta da zama a kasa, kuma suna da halaye da halaye iri-iri na musamman.
