Weirdest Sea Creatures

10 Fangtooth

Fangtooth
http://storage.montereybayaquarium.org
If a name can be an indication of the appearance, this is definitely the case! Extremely large pointed teeth of this deep sea fish are perfectly built to imprison anything that gets in its way. According to BBC experts Fangtooth has the largest teeth, comparing to its body size, of all the known fish species. It has a big head and mouth and a short body covered with small, prickly scales. Honestly, they are a real eyesore, but, fortunately, way too deep for us to look at them.


9 Viperfish

Viperfish
http://iliketowastemytime.com
One of the most dangerous predators of deep sea whose striking looks you’ll never forget. Its most impressive features are its curved needle-like teeth, so large they can’t even fit in its mouth, and of course, a very noticeable antenna on top of its head. The antenna, which top flashes light on and off is used, as a luring device for naive victims, and mates, but also to send a message to the rivals : ” Don’t mess with me ! ”


8 The Piglet Squid

The Piglet Squid
http://1.bp.blogspot.com
This unbelievably cute, surreal creature can be found in the deepwater (between 100 m and 200 m ). It got is nickname from the obvious resemblance to a piglet. Little is known about this funny guy, but what we know for sure is that he is a real exception in his family, here are some of the reasons : a typical head –down orientation, tentacles that resemble spiky hair, habit of swimming upside down, photophore –a large light producing organ located beneath each of its large eyes.


7 The Barreleye

The Barreleye
https://ksj.mit.edu
This unique life form was first discovered back in 1939s, but till 2004, when the first video recordings from sea depths were released, we could have only imagined a living one. Its unusual, tubular eyes, placed inside the transparent shield will leave you breathless.


6 Axolotl

Axolotl
http://www.plantedtank.net
Australians often call it “ Walking Fish” , others think it is some kind of water lizard. They are all wrong! Axolotl is neither fish, nor a reptile, it is an amphibian, a salamander. The most specific characteristic of this little Mexican is its ability to regenerate its limbs, which is probably why its name is connected to Aztec god of deformations and death – Xolotl. Another interesting fact is the one that, unlike other amphibians, which change from egg into larva and in the adult form, Axolotl stays in the form of larva throughout its whole life. The fact that it doesn’t develop characteristics of other adult salamanders, such as protruding eyes and eyelids, and that it retains fins and gills, made its appearance so unusual, thus our honorable member of the weirdest 10.


5 Yeti Crab

Yeti Crab
http://upload.wikimedia.org
This unusually large crustacean(15-cm-long), was discovered in 2005 in the South Pacific Ocean. Its legs and claws are cowered in feathery hairs or “setae”, which is why it was nicknamed yeti lobster” or “yeti crab”. Setae are covered with filamentous bacteria, which are speculated to be its food, or to be used as detoxifiers of poisonous minerals from the water emitted by the hydrothermal vents in which it lives. It feeds on green algae and small shrimp, as well. Although it is often called “furry lobster” by the non-scientists, it is more closely related to hermit crabs and squat lobsters.


4 Blobfish

Blobfish
http://1.bp.blogspot.com
This lazy, gelatinous fish lives in the deep waters off the coasts of mainland Australia and Tasmania. It has very few muscles, it barely moves, and it swallows whatever floats in front of it. No wonder this Ziggy –like creature looks so miserable when it is faced with extinction, and it’s not even edible, it is just a collateral damage of fishing.

3 Leafy Sea Dragon

Leafy Sea Dragon
One of the best camouflaged sea creatures is certainly Leafy Sea Dragon. Thanks to its brown to yellow colour, and its leaf-shaped appendages over its entire body, it can easily be mixed up with the floating seaweed. So, next time you see a yellow-brownish chunk of something floating, look at it thoroughly, it may be this little fellow. And, try to remember it! Due to pollution this species are threatened with extinction.


2 Vampire Squid

Vampire squid with feeding tentacle extended
http://cdn.reefs.com
This phylogenic relict is the only surviving creature of the order Vampyromorphida. This red-eyed weirdo is a small creature (up to 6 inches long) which has large fins, that look like bat’s wings, on its body, and tentacles connected by black webbing. Both, the fins and the webbing help it move really fast through the water. Too much resemblance to Stoker’s ‘Dracula’? Wait to see this! Thanks to the existence of light-producing organs called photophores, which cover its body, it can hypnotize its prey and defend itself.


1 Guineafowl Puffer

Guineafowl Puffer
http://upload.wikimedia.org
This unusual sea creature, also known as White-Spotted Balloon Fish, can be recognized by its black skin covered with white spots, and its strong beak –like mouth, which it uses for eating small invertebrates. It is famous for its ability to inflate itself whet threatened, in order to scare the predators. Then, its size reaches sometimes even 50 cm. Their unusual looks made them very popular, so they can often be found in saltwater aquariums.

Comments