וַיִּבְרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּ֣ה ׀ הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת אֲשֶׁר֩ שָׁרְצ֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ע֤וֹף כָּנָף֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃
Dieu créa les cétacés énormes, et tous les êtres animés qui se meuvent dans les eaux, où ils pullulèrent selon leurs espèces, puis tout ce qui vole au moyen d’ailes, selon son espèce; et Dieu considéra que c’était bien.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Gen. 1, 21) And God created the great sea monsters. Here in Babylon they translate this "sea gazelles." R. Jochanan, however, said: "It means leviathan— leviathan male and female, as it is written (Is. 27, 1) On that day will the Lord punish with His heavy and great and strong sword leviathan the flying serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent, and He will slay the crocodile that is in the sea."
Bereshit Rabbah
“God created the great serpents and every living creature that crawls, with which the water swarmed by their species, and every winged bird in its kind, and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:21).
“God created the…serpents [hataninim]” – Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Taninim is written without a yod12Yod being the sign of the plural. – this is Behemoth and Leviathan, that have no mates. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Behemoth has a mate, but has no desire [to mate], as it is stated: “The sinews of its testicles are knotted” (Job 40:17).
Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Matna: The peacock comes from a single white-colored drop,13Sperm. and yet it has three hundred and sixty-five colors, corresponding to the number of days in the solar year.
Rabbi Yirmeya Kahana asked Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: ‘One who crossbreeds sea animals, what is the halakha?’14It is forbidden to crossbreed animals (Leviticus 19:19). He said to him: ‘Also in their regard it is written: “By their species.”’15Alluding to the concept that different species should not be interbred. With this, ben Lakish spread out his net for Kahana.16He sought to stifle any further questions. Kahana raised an objection: ‘Is “by their species” not written regarding fish as well?’17That certainly does not allude to a halakha that they should not be interbred, as that is an impossible act. With this, Kahana spread out his net to trap Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish. How, indeed can this be done?18The mixing of two species of fish. Rabbi Yona said: ‘I can explain it regarding driving animals:19The Torah also forbids tying two different species together and forcing them to move along together (Deuteronomy 22:10). One brings two fish, a mairon and an asparon,20Two different species of fish. ties them together with reed-grass, and leads them along in the river or the sea. It is prohibited to do so, due to the prohibition of diverse kinds, as we learned:21Kilayim 8:2. The diverse kinds that were mentioned regarding driving them [together], may not be used to plow, to haul, or to pull together. Thus it is stated: “And every living creature that crawls, with which the water swarmed by their species”’ (Genesis 1:21).22Indicating that the prohibitions involving diverse species apply to sea life as well.
“And every winged bird” (Genesis 1:21) – this is the peacock.
“God created the…serpents [hataninim]” – Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Taninim is written without a yod12Yod being the sign of the plural. – this is Behemoth and Leviathan, that have no mates. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Behemoth has a mate, but has no desire [to mate], as it is stated: “The sinews of its testicles are knotted” (Job 40:17).
Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Matna: The peacock comes from a single white-colored drop,13Sperm. and yet it has three hundred and sixty-five colors, corresponding to the number of days in the solar year.
Rabbi Yirmeya Kahana asked Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: ‘One who crossbreeds sea animals, what is the halakha?’14It is forbidden to crossbreed animals (Leviticus 19:19). He said to him: ‘Also in their regard it is written: “By their species.”’15Alluding to the concept that different species should not be interbred. With this, ben Lakish spread out his net for Kahana.16He sought to stifle any further questions. Kahana raised an objection: ‘Is “by their species” not written regarding fish as well?’17That certainly does not allude to a halakha that they should not be interbred, as that is an impossible act. With this, Kahana spread out his net to trap Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish. How, indeed can this be done?18The mixing of two species of fish. Rabbi Yona said: ‘I can explain it regarding driving animals:19The Torah also forbids tying two different species together and forcing them to move along together (Deuteronomy 22:10). One brings two fish, a mairon and an asparon,20Two different species of fish. ties them together with reed-grass, and leads them along in the river or the sea. It is prohibited to do so, due to the prohibition of diverse kinds, as we learned:21Kilayim 8:2. The diverse kinds that were mentioned regarding driving them [together], may not be used to plow, to haul, or to pull together. Thus it is stated: “And every living creature that crawls, with which the water swarmed by their species”’ (Genesis 1:21).22Indicating that the prohibitions involving diverse species apply to sea life as well.
“And every winged bird” (Genesis 1:21) – this is the peacock.
Midrash Tehillim
Praise God from the earth and so forth. Isaiah said (Isaiah 43:7), "everyone who is called by My name, and so forth." The Lord did not create man except for His glory. As it is said (Proverbs 16:4), "The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, and so forth." He created them to praise Him. As it is said (Psalms 19:2), "The heavens declare the glory of God, and so forth." Just as the heavens and all that is in them praise Him, so too does the earth and all that is in it praise Him. As it is said, "Praise God from the earth." Everyone praises the King. And who praises Him first? The sons of the palace, and afterwards the sons of the province. Therefore, it is said, "Praise God from the heavens, and so forth." After they praised Him in the heavens. And who praises Him first? One who is greater than his companion. And who are these great ones? The sea monsters. As it is said (Genesis 1:21), "God created the great sea monsters." Therefore, they praise Him first. As it is said, "Sea monsters and all depths." And how many depths are there that have not been explored? As it is said (Proverbs 8:24), "When there were no depths I was brought forth." And it is written (Exodus 15:5), "The depths covered them." And until now, no one knows how many there are. Until the sons of Korah said (Psalms 42:8), "Deep calls to deep, and so forth." Therefore, it is said, "Sea monsters and all depths." Let all praise the name of God.