The sea is filled with graceful and beautiful creatures. Dreams of swimming with dolphins, rays, and colorful tropical fish are one of the reasons many people take up scuba diving in the first place. But the ocean is home to unusual and frightening sights as well. Here are just 10 terrifying sea creatures that are the stuff of nightmares!
Vampire Fish
With two razor sharp fangs protruding from its lower lip, the Amazonian Payara looks as though it could tear through anything. Called the Pirandira in Brazil, this ferocious freshwater creature preys upon fish up to half its own size.
Goblin Shark
Living in the deepest parts of the ocean, skimming along the sea floor, is the elusive goblin shark. Sporting a long, pointed nose, this shark eats in a most unusual way. It sticks its jaw out and sucks the hapless victim into its mouth, chomping it in rows of sharp teeth.
Basking Shark
While not dangerous to humans, the filter feeding basking shark can still be a startling sight. Growing up to 25 feet in length, they swim with their huge mouths open, looking as though they could swallow you whole.
Lancetfish
This sleek nightmare of a fish sports large circular eyes and a long, spiked sail along its back. Growing up to six feet in length, their slender, pointed fangs complete the frightening picture.
Lamprey
The alien-like lamprey has a circular, tooth-filled mouth. This tubular creature latches onto its victims with these rows of teeth and gnaws through flesh and even bone, sucking the blood from its helpless prey.
Pacu
Native to South America, the pacu fish has been making its way into North America. This invasive species has one creepy quality: Its teeth look disturbingly like a human’s. Though a relative of the piranha, they are not harmful to people.
Atlantic Wolfish
Rows of large teeth overflowing a wide mouth give the Atlantic wolfish a frightening appearance. It also has the odd ability to produce its own internal antifreeze to counteract the cold water temperatures in which it lives.
Obese Dragonfish
This oddly named fish sports rows of fang-like teeth and a long, scaleless body. Living at depths of almost 5,000 feet, this bioluminescent species produces an infrared light, rendering it almost invisible to their prey until it’s too late for them to escape.
Anglerfish
Another deep dweller, the anglerfish has a protruding, spike-filled lower jaw with which it chews up its prey. Their mating process is pretty creepy as well. The tiny male latches on to the large female with his teeth, eventually fusing with her completely, even losing his own eyes. A female can have several males attached to her at once.
Blobfish
Last on our list of 10 totally terrifying sea creatures is a fish that looks more laughable than scary, but is strange nonetheless. With its protruding nose and large, drooping lips, the blobfish looks like a melting, cartoonish old man. Not too horrifying, but definitely unforgettable.