There are a lot of strange ocean creatures when you get beneath the waves, and the darker the water gets and the lower the temperature drops, the more bizarre those creatures can get. These creatures can be weird in good ways and weird in bad ways, but you can’t deny the fact that they are truly fascinating. Earth’s waters are definitely home of some of the most bizarre aquatic creatures that are not only funny-looking, but which also behave in strange ways. Here are 7 strange ocean creatures that I’m sure you’ve never heard of before:
In my opinion, this is definitely one of the strange ocean creatures, but also one of the most fascinating ones. Even though its name may sound extremely similar to a piece of lingerie, the pink see-through fantasia is actually a sea cucumber which can be found about a mile and a half deep in the Celebes Sea in the Western Pacific, east of Borneo.
This little creature actually looks a lot like a Pokemon cartoon. I find it extremely cute but I’m sure some people might disagree with me on this one. This little fish is extremely dangerous because it releases a highly lethal toxin when under stress. It inhabits the reefs of the Indo-Pacific and it can be found usually in the less turbid waters.
This little fellow is one of the strangest sea creatures I’ve ever seen. They are known for their disproportionally large pectoral fins and they have been observed to “walk” along sandy sea floors while looking for crustaceans and other small invertebrates while using these very interesting fins. Most species live in the Indo-Pacific but they can also be found in the Atlantic Ocean.
This little strange creature is actually a marine fish related to the sea horse that is the marine emblem of the Australian State of Victoria and that can only be found in the Australian waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean. They get their name from their leaf like appearance, which they are actually using for camouflage.
This is a species of batfish found along the coast of the western Atlantic Ocean and it grows to a length of 10 centimeters. As you can see, this little fellow has a bulbous lure or an esca, which unlike that of most anglerfishes is not luminous, but rather secretes fluid that actually acts like a chemical to attract prey.
The axolotl is also known as the Mexican salamander or the Mexican walking fish. Sadly, this species is already near extinction and it’s widely used in scientific research due to its ability to regenerate its limbs. It’s carnivorous and it feeds on worms, insects and small fish.
The axolotl is an amphibian native to Mexico, and is the only species of the genus Ambystoma. It is a neotenic salamander, meaning that it retains its larval features throughout its adult life. It has a broad flat head, long tail, and small beady eyes. The axolotl can grow up to 30 cm in length, and can live up to 15 years in the wild. It is an aquatic creature, though it is able to survive on land for short periods of time. The axolotl is carnivorous, and feeds on worms, insects, and small fish. It has the unique ability to regenerate its limbs and organs, making it a popular species in scientific research. Unfortunately, the axolotl is critically endangered due to water pollution, and is now only found in a few lakes in Mexico.
Mola Mola is also known as the ocean sunfish and it’s the heaviest known bony fish in the world. The species is native to tropical and temperate waters. An average adult can weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.). It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. It generally feasts on jellyfish and the females of this species can produce more eggs than any other known vertebrate.
There are a lot of bizarre-looking creatures in the oceans around the globe. I just mentioned a few in this little article but I’m sure there are more I forgot about. Can you give me a hand and tell me what other strange ocean creatures I can add to this list? Do tell!
Sources: popularmechanics.com, list25.com