Over 80% of the ocean remains unexplored, and it’s not hard to see why when you catch a glimpse of some of the freakish horrors dwelling in the murky depths.
Each of these strange creatures is more absurd-looking than the last, with some being actually kinda cute and others being downright nightmare fuel.
Put on your flippers and respirator and take a look.
1
Snipe Eels
Snipe eels can grow up to six and a half feet long.
2
Snipe Eels
They catch prey in their long beak-like jaws as they swim.
3
Siphonophores
Siphonophores are a type of organism made up of many individual polyps that act as one creature. There are more than 175 species of siphonophores, with the largest colony on record measuring 154 feet in length and 49 feet in diameter.
4
Vampire Squid
The vampire squid has the largest eyes of any animal proportional to its body size.
5
Vampire Squid
When startled they use the webbing between their arms to cover their body in a sort of ‘cloak’.
6
Viperfish
Most species of viperfish live in an area of the ocean called the ‘twilight zone’, between 200 and 1000 meters deep.
7
Viperfish
Viperfish use their long, needle-esque fangs to enclose prey in a cage-like trap.
8
Sea Pig
Sea pigs are a group of sea cucumbers that live on the ocean floor.
9
Sea Pig
They sometimes gather in huge groups to feast on the carcasses of whales or other large animals.
10
Giant Sea Spiders
These creepy crawlers live on the ocean floor of the Antarctic and Arctic.
11
Giant Sea Spiders
All their organs are concentrated in their legs.
12
Giant Isopod
These 16-inch-long scavengers are relatives of the woodlouse. They scrounge the ocean floor for food that falls from above, like pieces of fish carcasses.
13
Giant Isopod
They are enjoyed as a delicacy in some cultures.
14
Goblin Shark
These truly bizarre looking creatures are extremely rare.
15
Goblin Shark
Much is unknown about them, including their maximum size.
16
Goosefish
Goosefish are a type of anglerfish that lurk in sandy or muddy ocean floors and bait in prey with a bioluminescent lure.
17
Goosefish
They have flattened heads, flabby bodies, and can walk on their fins like feet.
18
Gulper Eels
These deep sea weirdos are also called pelican eels, and it’s not hard to see why, what with their large, pouched mouths.
19
Gulper Eels
Their tails have a bioluminescent tip to attract prey.
20
Cookiecutter Shark
The cookiecutter shark is a small, cylindrically-shaped shark that lives in the deep sea.
21
Cookiecutter Shark
It is so named because it uses its sharp teeth to latch onto prey and cut cookie-shaped chunks out of its flesh.
22
Dragonfish
Dragonfish are covered with light-emitting bioluminescent organs that they use to communicate with each other.
23
Dragonfish
Their teeth are embedded with nanocrystals, giving them a stronger bite than sharks.
24
Dumbo Octopus
The dumbo octopus is named after Disney’s classic cartoon elephant, because of the two earlike fins that protrude from above its eyes.
25
Dumbo Octopus
These cute creatures swim by gently flapping their ‘ears’.
26
Frilled Shark
Frilled sharks use their sharp three-pointed teeth to shred their favorite prey of squids.
27
Frilled Shark
They can grow over six feet long. These sharks are very rare, and researchers believe they live in the deep ocean.
28
Bigfin Squid
The bigfin squid is one of the most alien-looking denizens of the ocean. Its trailing tentacles can grow up to 20 feet long, more than 20 times the length of its body. It is the deepest dwelling squid known to science.
29
Black Seadevil
This horrifyingly-named anglerfish lives between 100 and 4,500 meters below the surface of the ocean. Though they are nasty looking, they only grow to be about 8 inches long.
30
Black Swallower
The black swallower has large jaws and an extendable stomach, allowing it to take down prey up to 10 times its weight. Very few people have seen a black swallower in the deep sea, but their dead bodies sometimes float to the surface.
