10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

From a fish with both its eyes on the same side of it’s head to a massive squid with swivelling hooks on it’s tentacles we take a look at the 10 weirdest sea creatures ever found.

10. Frilled Shark

Frilled Shark - 10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

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The frilled shark is thought by some to be the original source of reports of sea serpents due to it’s long, undulating appearance. Dubbed the ‘living fossil’ this bizarre looking creature can grow up to 2 metres (6 ft 6 inches) in length. The frilled shark is believed to attack it’s prey by recoiling its body and lunging forwards like a snake. Interestingly, it has the longest gestation period of any known vertebrate taking up to 3 and a half years to give birth to its young.

9. Anglerfish

Anglerfish - 10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

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The strange looking anglerfish gets it’s name from the unique way  it hunts its prey. Dangling from it’s head is a fleshy growth known as an illicium, which the fish uses to lure its prey closer. The anglerfish can grow bigger than 1 metre (3 ft) and weigh as much as 45 kg (100 lbs). Sometimes called a frogfish due to its large mouth this unique predator has many inward-facing, fang-like teeth designed to grab and trap it’s prey.

8. Coelacanth

Coelacanth - 10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

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The coelacanth was thought to have gone extinct around 66 million years ago until a local fisherman caught one of the coast of South Africa. This ancient fish has since been found off the east coast of Africa and more recently in the waters of Indonesia. The coelacanth is thought to have evolved into it’s current form about 400 million years old and is more closely related to reptiles and mammals than most fish of today. These prehistoric beasts can grow up to 2 metres in length and weigh a massive 90 kg (200 lbs).

7. Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead Shark - 10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

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Found in most coastal waters around the world, Hammerheads are a group of sharks known for their peculiar hammer-shaped heads. Growing up to 6 metres (19 ft 7 inches) these animals can be very aggressive using their razor sharp teeth to catch their prey. Hammerheads are solitary hunters by evening but spend their time in schools of up to 100 during the day. It is unclear what use the shark’s hammer head (known as a cephalofoil) plays but scientists believe it may help the animal with maneuvering, sensory reception or even catching their prey.

6. Flounder

Flounder - 10 Weirdest Sea Creatures Ever Found

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The flounder starts it’s life with one eye on either side of it’s head but then it undergoes a bizarre metamorphosis as it reaches adulthood. One eye slowly moves from one side of it’s head to the other and this strange fish spends part of it’s life with 2 eyes on the same side of it’s head! It then changes it behaviour and becomes a flat ocean floor dweller with both eyes now on the top of it’s head. It undergoes this change to protect itself from predators as it increases in size.

 

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