12 Mysterious Animals That Can Only Be Found At The Bottom Of The Ocean

The infamous Giant Squid!

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The Giant Squid (or Architeuthis dux) is seriously the stuff of nightmares. The biggest one ever recorded was a massive 43 feet long, almost half the size of a blue whale. It has around 2.7 billion DNA base pairs, pretty close to 90 percent of the size of the human genome. Most of what we know about them comes from their carcasses that just happen to wash up on the shore.

Rare Terrifying Frilled Sharks

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The frilled shark (or Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is seriously one of the most gnarliest looking creatures in the entire sea. If you think that thing looks like some kind of ancient beast, well, you're totally right! It actually is one! This prehistoric creature has been around for a mind-blowing 80 million years. It can grow up to a whopping seven feet long. These creatures actually swim in a super cool serpentine way, kinda like an eel.

This strange Flamingo Tongue Snail

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Can we talk about the flamingo tongue snail? With that peculiar name, and let's not forget about its super flashy colors. Its vibrant colors actually come from the soft parts of its body that wrap around its shell. It's got an amazing trick up its sleeve - or should I say, under its mantle flaps. When it's in danger, it can retract those flaps and reveal its true shell. How cool is that?

The gorgeous pink, see-through Fantasia

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This fabulous pink see-through fantasia is actually a sea cucumber. These little beauties can be found about 1.5 miles deep into the Celebes Sea, which is in the western Pacific. The sea cucumber was actually discovered just a little over ten years ago, way back in 2007. These little guys have developed an awesome survival tactic over a long period of time. They use bio-luminescence to scare away any predators that might come their way.

The extra-terrestrial-looking Nudibranch

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Nudibranches have over 3,000 different species under their belt, making them super versatile. They can be found in shallow waters, deep waters, and even in the North and South poles. There are actually two super cool types. First up, we have the dorid nudibranchs. These guys are all smooth and sleek, but what's really neat is that they have these feather-like gills on their backs. Then we have the aeolid nudibranchs, and they have a totally different way of getting their oxygen. They've got these special organs called cerata on their backs that do the trick.

Ribbon eels!

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The ribbon eel can also be known as the leaf-nosed moray eel! These awesome creatures can be found in the Indonesian waters, stretching all the way from East Africa to southern Japan, Australia, and even French Polynesia. So, these little guys actually start off with a sleek black color, but they've got this cool pale yellow strip running along their fins. As they grow up, though, their colors change to this vibrant combination of bright blue and yellow.

The Blobfish (or fathead if you prefer)

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While officially named Psychrolutes microporos, they also gave it the nickname "Fathead." According to Smithsonian Magazine, this super weird-looking creature is considered the "World's Ugliest Animal"? This little guy survive in the deep sea, like, super deep. We're talking depths of over 4,000 feet! The pressure down there is a whopping 120 times higher than at the surface. It's mind-blowing how this blobfish can handle all that intense pressure.

The Peacock Mantis Shrimp

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Have you ever heard of the peacock mantis shrimp? It's a cool crustacean that you can find in the Indian and tropical western Pacific oceans. Let me tell you, it's not your average shrimp! This little guy is known for its vibrant candy-colored appearance, like a real-life rainbow! The shrimp has two appendages that it can use to deliver lightning-fast punches to its prey. It's so powerful that it can even break the glass wall of an aquarium.

Look away arachnophobes - Japanese Spider Crabs

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These massive crabs, like seriously huge, are actually from Japan! They're super fancy and highly sought after as a delicacy all across the country. People just can't get enough of them. Amazingly, they can actually grow up to a whopping 12 feet long. They're not picky eaters at all and will gobble up just about anything buy they do have a preference for munching on the bodies of other marine animals.

Plenty of Obese Dragonfish

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The obese dragonfish won't mind its name at all. It's actually quite impressive to be one of the biggest species in the Melanostomiidae family. According to the Australian Museum, these super cool deepwater dwellers have this sleek, scaleless black body and are equipped with a full set of these big, fang-like teeth. They also have this long chin barbel and a bunch of these light-producing photophores along their body and behind their eyes.

Forget Buffy... here's the Vampire Squid!

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Even though it looks like it, this isn't a squid or an octopus! Scientists have actually classified the vampire squid as a totally unique creature. Even though it has eight arms and two tentacles, it's still considered its own distinct animal. While being called a "vampire", they don't actually suck blood. The name actually comes from the skin between its arms resembling a cape!

The Whitemargin Stargazer

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It's like the blobfish's rival for the title of the ugliest sea creature. This tough guy means business, using these crazy double-grooved poison spines above its pectoral fins to sting its prey. Not only does it have these cool electrical organs, but they're actually tucked away in a special pouch right behind its eyes. These organs can deliver a whopping 50 volts of electricity when the stargazer wants to sting its prey.

The freaky red-lipped Batfish (or Galapagos!)

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Check out this super weird fish, also known as the Galapagos batfish. This creature is actually called the lipstick fish because of its fabulous red lips. It's always ready for a night out on the town! It may look like it has legs, but those limb-like appendages are actually fins! The funky fish uses its fins to stand on and get a good look at its surroundings.

The holy Sea Angels

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Even though they're called sea angels, these little guys are actually sneaky predatory sea snails. They're pros at swimming in the deep Antarctic waters, on a mission to find and devour shelled pteropods, which are like snails. With awesome parapodia, which are like these fancy lateral extensions of their foot, they zoom through the water. Now that really is impressive.

The colorful Red-Spotted Blenny

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Aquatics

These algae-munching fish are usually super chill and peaceful. But guess what? When it comes to other fish of their kind, or even those who aren't their own mates, the Red-Spotted Blenny can get a bit feisty, especially if they're kept in a tank. They're not afraid to show their teeth and go after other Red-Spotted Blenny fish nearby. They're all about the coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Porcupinefish

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The porcupinefish is like the cool cousin of the puffer fish, they both have these awesome spines all over their bodies, and when they feel threatened, they can actually swallow water and puff themselves up into a round ball. It's practically impossible for predators to gobble up a porcupinefish when it puffs up like a balloon. It's like a toxic bomb for most fish!

Seahorses? Nah, Seadragons!

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Forget seahorses, this seadragon is the ultimate creature found hanging out along the southwestern coast of Australia. Not only do their finds help it swim around, but they also serve as a clever disguise. The leafy seadragon can actually make itself look like a floating piece of seaweed. They can concentrate pressure at their mouth to create a powerful suction force and suck in their prey.

Parrotfish (not the spawn of a parrot and a fish!)

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Did you know that there are around 80 different species of parrotfish out there? They come in all sorts of vibrant colors and can range in length from about one foot to four feet. Mainly, they're found hanging out in coral reefs all around the world. The name actually comes from those cool fused teeth they have at the front of their mouth, totally looking like a beak.

The sad-looking Coffinfish

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Did you know that these deepwater fishes are also called "the sea toad"? They have this tiny little lure thingy sticking out from behind their eyes, like a little bump. Coffinfish are pretty clever little creatures, since they live in super deep waters where there's not much light, they use a strategy to help them swiftly attack their unsuspecting victims.

Grimpoteuthis Octopus (or Dumbo Octopus)

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This adorable octopus is called a Grimpoteuthis octopus, but everyone lovingly calls it Dumbo. Why? Well, because when it swims, it flaps its fins that look just like ears. They can be found over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. They hang out at depths of at least 4,000 meters, and sometimes even go even deeper than that. These octopuses are super rare, and the females store sperm inside their bodies for a super long time after mating.

Beady-eyed Squirrelfish

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Did you know that the squirrelfish may not be very big, only reaching a max length of about two feet, but don't let its size fool you, this little creature is a total powerhouse packed into a small frame. They like to hang out in the deep sea, chilling at depths of around 100 to 600 feet below the surface. They're all about scanning the sandy sea floor and grass beds, on the lookout for some tasty prey.

Goblinsharks? No thanks!

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Goblin sharks are the scariest creatures ever. It can grow up to a whopping 15 feet long and has this crazy ability to thrust its entire jaw outward to snatch its prey. Spotting a goblin shark might be quite a challenge. Since 1898, less than 50 of these fascinating creatures have been seen. So, if you're crossing your fingers to catch a glimpse of one, the odds might be a bit slim. But hey, never say never, right?

A beautiful Christmas Tree Worm

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Scientists stumbled upon this super weird creature at the Great Barrier Reef's Lizard Island and they gave it the perfect name - the Christmas tree worm. Those spiral "branches" you see are actually the worm's super cool breathing and feeding apparatuses. The worm itself lives in a tube. They're covered in these funky hair-like appendages called radioles.

Strength in numbers: the Armored Snail!

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Did you know that the Crysomallon squamiferum is one unique snail? It's totally armored and can be found chillin' near hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. This little creature has a few other names. People call it the "scaly-foot gastropod," "scaly-foot snail," and even the "sea pangolin." The multilayered shell structure we're talking about here is actually super cool and has inspired the development of stronger materials.

Gulper Eels

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This little eel is also known as the pelican eel, probably for its ginormous mouth and jaw. These features actually come in handy when it comes to gobbling up their prey whole. Their mouths are so huge that they can gobble up meals even bigger than themselves. People say that gulper eels typically munch on crustaceans and other tiny sea creatures.

The Thornback Cowfish

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This dude is actually a type of boxfish, but get this, he's got these super cool horns on top of his head. They're not all about using those horns to bully others though. Believe it or not, when the thornback cowfish finds itself in stressful situations, or worse, and it reaches its last nerve, they can actually turn incredibly toxic. How cool is that!

The camouflaged Mimic Octopus

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The amazing mimic octopus is actually found in the Indo Pacific region. What's really cool about this little creature is that it has the ability to blend in with its surroundings using something called chromatophores. Also, it can actually impersonate a bunch of other marine animals, which is why it got its super-fitting name. It can mimic the majestic lion fish, the slithery sea snake, the graceful jellyfish, and even the striped zebra sole.

The Bioluminescent Octopus

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Did you know that the Stauroteuthis syrtensis octopus is one of the coolest creatures out there? It's one of the few octopods that can actually glow with its own light. These amazing octopuses can be found chillin' about a mile deep in the Gulf of Maine. It's got light-emitting organs called photophores, which it uses to trick its prey into swimming right into its mouth!

Sea Pens (not for writing)

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The orange sea pen, also known as Ptilosarcus gurneyi, is actually a super cool colony of animals. These little buddies can totally withdraw into the soft sediment where they hang out. There are actually more than 300 species of sea pens out there and they got their name because they look just like quills. When they're all stimulated, they light up with this awesome green glow.

Last but not least, the Black Swallower

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To finish off the list we have the impressive (yet terrifying) black swallower fish. The marine animal can actually swallow prey that's way bigger than itself using the extended gut attached to its belly. The adaptation is like super helpful because black swallowers live way down deep in the sea where food is seriously hard to find. Thank god for evolution!