It’s hard to believe that most of the ocean still has yet to be explored. It makes up so much of our planet, but we still know so little about it. The parts that have been explored have revealed some pretty terrifying creatures. Here are some of the scariest creatures on earth that have been found below the surface.
Sarcastic Fringehead
The sarcastic fringehead fish can be found off the coast of California and Mexico in the Pacific Ocean. While it looks scary and dangerous, it is virtually harmless towards humans.
Lamprey
The lamprey species dates back 540 million years! However, you should be thankful if you never come across this hideous creature in the ocean. It’s strange design looks like a long tube that when you look inside, you’ll see rows and rows of teeth.
Giant Squid
The Giant Squid was once just a myth from the deep ocean. We know and have evidence that it is in fact real and very dangerous. Its tentacles are so long with extremely strong suction cups. Not to mention, it has a beak that can break through the toughest of skin.
Black Dragonfish
This fish will definitely give you nightmares if you ever swam into it while floating in the ocean. Luckily they like to stay in the deep ocean so the chances of seeing them are very slim.
Gulper Eel
The gulper eel is definitely not how you would expect an eel to look. One fun fact about this terrifying creature is that it can swallow animals whole, just like an anaconda.
Frilled Shark
When you think of the term “frilled” you probably imagine something fancy and lacey, but that definitely doesn’t apply to this shark. Instead, it refers to the ruffled gills on its neck. They also have about 25 rows of teeth!
Anglerfish
The anglerfish may be one of the ugliest creatures swimming around the ocean. One of the most unique features the anglerfish has is a bioluminescent bulb on its head that offers some light for the fish to sea in the depths of the ocean.
Giant Isopod
This fish looks much more like a sea cockroach than anything else. It has a hard shell to protect it from predators and hundreds of legs underneath it. It lives on the bottom of the ocean and feasts on carcasses.
Goblin Shark
There is a reason this shark is called a goblin. It’s absolutely terrifying to look at. You may notice that the teeth of the goblin shark are small and thin, but that doesn’t mean they can’t tear their prey to shreds in seconds.
Vampire Squid
While the vampire squid may sound scary, it’s actually pretty harmless. It doesn’t even squirt ink to get away from its predators. Although, don’t count on seeing one of these any time soon because they are pretty deep down.
The Snaggletooth
While the snaggletooth fish is small, their bite is quite mighty. Their teeth are extremely sharp and they are known for being pretty ferocious. You definitely don’t want to run into one of these while swimming in the ocean.
Black Swallower
The Black Swallower fish is definitely not easy to look at. They have an entire extension of their body underneath that does help them swallow their food. Just look at that intimidating expression too.
Grenadier
There’s a reason that there are so many ugly creatures in the ocean. It’s because there isn’t much light and frankly, looks don’t really matter. The grenadier is small, but its ugliness makes up for its size.
Barreleye
This fish looks like it came right out of a cartoon. This fish is translucent, so you can see its organs working within its body. Although, its face is kind of cute when you take away the “see-through” aspect.
Asian Carp
Asian Carp are actually found in fresh water in the United States They are known for leaping out of the water and scaring any swimmers or boaters who may pass by them.
Fangtooth Fish
The fangtooth fish has large fangs that are very sharp and perfect for catching their prey. You can tell that they are ferocious just by the dead look in their eye. It’s a good thing they don’t come up to the surface or else humans would definitely be in some serious trouble.
Alligator Gar
Nope, this fish is definitely not an alligator but it sure does look like one. They can grow to be up to 230 pounds and are found in fresh bodies of water in North America.
Snakehead Fish
Nobody loves snakes; they’re scary and creepy. However, if you come across a snakehead fish you’ll be even more freaked out because it has the head of a snake and the body of a fish.
Northern Stargazer
This is a face that only a mother could love. While this fish has never had the chance to stargaze, it got its name due to the placement of its eyes right on top of his head. This fish lives on the seafloor and has been for thousands of years.
Megamouth Shark
You can probably guess this shark’s most prominent feature just from its name. Its mouth is absolutely huge! Even though the size of its mouth is enormous, its diet consists mostly of small fauna and krill.
Megalodon
While the megalodon isn’t the most hideous creature to swim through the ocean, it may be one of the biggest. This shark is the size of two school buses! Their diet consists of whales. Yes, you read that right.
Saber-Toothed Viperfish
This mighty fish isn’t afraid to use its large teeth to catch its next meal. It will use its teeth to capture its prey and immobilize them while they kill them. They are found in warm tropical waters, so I would look out if you’re vacationing in the Caribbean.
Sea Slug
While slugs don’t seem to incite fear normally, you should definitely be worried about the sea slug. This slug has many sharp teeth that it uses to rip apart its prey. Even though they look beautiful with their bold colors, we definitely recommend that you stay away.
Sea Cucumber
While the sea cucumber is not a violent creature, it is deadly. When it feels like it is in danger, it will release a toxin known as holothurin, which can kill anyone who ingests it.
Blobfish
It’s hard to believe that a fish like this actually exists. It looks like a blob of slime just sitting on the ocean floor. In fact, it looks a lot like a cartoon character, but we promise it is real.