The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet the deep sea remains largely unexplored. While there is still much to uncover in the mysterious depths, scientists have already encountered some bizarre and frightening creatures in the deep sea.
Stonefish
Stonefish may not look particularly threatening, but don’t be fooled—they’re actually the world’s most venomous fish. They are covered in deadly spines that can kill humans. You may not even see them coming, as they are camouflaged to blend in with rocks on the ocean floor.
Sloane’s Viperfish
Sloane’s viperfish can completely engulf their prey with their large mouths and long, fang-like teeth. Their teeth are also widely disproportionate to their body size, making them a small but mighty predator.
Sea Pigs
Sea pigs are a type of sea cucumber that can be found within the great ocean depths. Their name comes from their strange resemblance to pigs, and they often form large groups on the ocean floor, where they scavenge for whatever food they can find.
Goblin Shark
If you’ve ever seen a picture of a goblin shark, you’ll know that it’s reminiscent of a creature out of a sci-fi film. Its long snout, jagged teeth, and ancient appearance have earned it a firm spot on this list. According to Nature Journal, another terrifying fact about the goblin shark is that it can extend and retract its jaw to assist in hunting.
Proboscis Worm
Worms can’t be that scary, right? Well, they certainly can when they can grow up to two meters (over 6 ½ feet) in length! These strange critters use their long bodies to navigate the deep seafloor, where they eat almost anything they can find.
Zombie Worms
Zombie worms are scary by name and scary by nature. These little creatures live in the bones of dead whales, where they use their acid secretions to break down the bones and absorb the nutrients within. They have no traditional digestive organs, such as a mouth or gut.
Red Octopus
If you saw a glimpse of this deep Atlantic creature, you may be caught between a mix of awe and terror. They are known for their bioluminescent suckers, which glow in the dark to attract prey, giving them a somewhat mystical appearance.
Giant Isopods
Giant isopods are just like woodlice… except huge, scary, and found hundreds of meters below the ocean surface. Despite their large size, these critters can survive for long periods without food. When they do eat, they opt for the carcasses of whales, squid, and various kinds of fish.
Big Red Jellyfish
Big red jellyfish certainly live up to their name. Smithsonian Ocean states that these incredible sea jellies can grow up to over one meter (3.2 feet) in length and live in some of the deepest parts of the sea. They use their long arms to catch their prey and have become known for their striking red appearance.
Fangtooth Fish
As you may have guessed, fangtooth fish have large fangs that give them a rather threatening appearance. These huge teeth contrast with their small body size, which grows up to just 15cm in length. Although they look pretty menacing, you may be comforted to hear that they’re completely harmless to humans.
Frilled Shark
The frilled shark lives deep in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and is sometimes referred to as a fossil because of its ancient appearance. It is also famous for its three hundred distinct pointed teeth, which allow it to swiftly and easily devour its prey.
Megamouth Shark
Megamouth sharks certainly do have mega mouths, and can grow up to a staggering 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length. So far, they’re one of our rarest deep ocean discoveries, as they have been scarcely seen since they were first discovered in 1976.
Anglerfish
Anglerfish are one of the most famous types of deep sea creatures, thanks to their distinctive glowing protrusions on their heads. They use this hypnotic light to lure in their prey, which they then devour with their huge, sharp teeth.
Vampire Squid
Despite its intimidating name, the vampire squid is actually a rather harmless creature that does not suck blood or ink its prey. It actually gets its name from the appearance of its large eyes, which appear bloodshot. In fact, its eyes are so large that, according to MarineBio, vampire squids have the largest eye-to-body ratio of any animal in the world.
Ghost Shark
This spooky ocean dweller is one of the more recent deep-sea discoveries and was first discovered in Southern California in 2009. Although it’s called a ghost shark, it evolved separately from them 400 million years ago. Ghost sharks are known for their huge buck teeth, which make them resemble rodents.
