With only 5% of the world’s oceans explored, it’s no surprise that most of us live in fear of what could lurk beneath. If you’re looking for a reason never to go swimming again, here are 19 of the most terrifying sea creatures you most certainly wouldn’t want to meet!
The Anglerfish
If you’re a fan of Finding Nemo, you may remember one particularly traumatic scene of a terrifying sea creature attracting its prey with its bioluminescent lure: the Anglerfish. And what happens once you’re lured by the bright light? Well, the anglerfish will have its gigantic mouth with rows of sharp teeth open and ready!
Giant Squid
The largest squid recorded by scientists was 43 feet in length, according to the Smithsonian. If that isn’t enough to deter you from the ocean, they also have extremely sharp beaks that are powerful enough to slice clean through flesh.
Goblin Shark
There are many ferocious shark species out there, but one of the most terrifying is the goblin shark. It’s so ancient that it’s often known as a living fossil. The goblin shark has a particularly gruesome extendable jaw that allows it to catch its prey more easily with its sharp teeth.
Box Jellyfish
Another terrifying sea creature is also one of the most dangerous, thanks to its potent venom capable of killing a human in mere minutes: the box jellyfish. This creature has a transparent body, which means it’s also extremely difficult to spot in the water.
Stonefish
Known as the most venomous fish in the world, the stonefish is particularly terrifying thanks to its talent for camouflaging itself against the ocean floor. This means you’ll likely never see it before you step on it – which, of course, results in an extremely painful sting, which could also be fatal.
The Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus is another terrifying ocean dweller whose tiny size is problematic for a few reasons. Firstly, you’re unlikely to spot it thanks to it being so small, and secondly, its tiny body is deceptive to the fact that it has enough venom to kill 26 adult humans in only a few minutes.
Viperfish
The viperfish uses bioluminescent photophores to attract its prey in the deepest parts of the ocean and is capable of surviving depths of 5,000 feet. Luckily, this means those extremely long, needle-like teeth will be far away from us swimming in the shallows – hopefully!
The Great White Shark
The great white shark is one of the ocean’s most notorious apex predators, capable of detecting a single drop of blood within 25 gallons of water. If you thought its jaw already looked terrifying enough, National Geographic reveals that the shark has 300 sharp teeth arranged in seven rows.
Pufferfish
The pufferfish is one of the most intimidating sea creatures, thanks to the dangerous neurotoxin present in its internal organs. Because pufferfish is a delicacy in some cultures, it’s even more dangerous if not prepared by a trained chef to eliminate the toxins.
The Lionfish
The lionfish takes a place on our list thanks to its extremely venomous spines, which can result in a very painful sting. The good news is that its notable zebra stripes make it recognizable enough for you to hopefully get away in time!
Frilled Shark
Another terrifying shark species is the frilled shark, which actually resembles an eel more than it does a shark. Its name comes from the frilled gills along its body, but it’s the teeth you have to watch out for as it has rows and rows of fierce, prong-shaped fangs.
Fangtooth
Not only is the name of the Fangtooth terrifying, but the reason behind it is, too: it has the largest teeth relative to the body size of any fish in the ocean. This creature is capable of surviving even the most extreme deep-sea conditions, feeding on its prey in the darkest depths.
Portuguese Man o’ War
Another terrifying sea creature is the Portuguese Man o’ War, even more so because its dangerous stingers are still potent even when washed up on shore. If that wasn’t terrifying enough, this sea creature has been known to float in packs of over 1,000, says the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Red-Lipped Batfish
The red-lipped batfish is one of the scariest ocean dwellers for an altogether different reason. It has a bizarre appearance, which includes bright red lips akin to the latest lipstick line! Not only that, but the batfish has pectoral fins that allow it to walk along the ocean floor.
Gulper Eel
The clue’s in the name for the terrifying gulper eel, which has a mouth so large that it’s able to feast on prey as big as its own body. The gulper eel works by attracting prey in the darkest depths of the ocean using bioluminescence, often lurking around 1,800 meters below!
Mantis Shrimp
You might never think a shrimp could be classed as one of the most terrifying sea creatures, but the mantis shrimp has a particularly powerful set of claws that can hit with the force of a bullet. They’re strong enough, in fact, that they’ve been known to completely break through aquarium glass.
The Stargazer Fish
The stargazer fish is an adept predator thanks to its knack of burying itself in the sand and ambushing stealthily from below. Its electrified organs mean it can zap anyone who gets in its way. The worst part? It’s often found in shallow waters, so you’ll want to watch your step!
Black Dragonfish
The Black Dragonfish is an eerie, eel-like creature that lurks in the deepest parts of the ocean, where it lures its prey with a bioluminescent barbel and then uses its sharp teeth to feed. To make them more disturbing, they have their eyes at the end of long stalks, reveals the Australian Museum.
The Deep-Sea Hatchetfish
If you weren’t well and truly scared already, the last on our list might do it: the deep-sea hatchetfish, which easily camouflages itself through its eerie bioluminescent organs. This unusual glow from within gives them an altogether terrifying visage you’ll have nightmares about for years to come.
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