5. Sarcastic Fringehead
The strangely named sarcastic fringehead is native to the waters off the western coast of North America from San Francisco to Baja California. This fish gets its name at least in part from its unusual ability to extend its jaw outwards significantly increasing the size of it’s mouth! The sarcastic fringehead is extremely territorial and uses its gigantic mouth to fight off and discourage male intruders.
4. The Yeti Crab
The Kiwa hirsuta or Yeti crab was first discovered in 2005 living in the South Pacific Ocean. The crab’s oddly long and hairy claws are home to bacteria that are thought to protect the crab by detoxifying poisonous minerals in the water, spewed from the hydrothermal vents where the crab lives. This furry crab gets its name from Kiwa the goddess of the shellfish in Polynesian mythology.
3. Goblin Shark
This deep-sea shark belongs to the family of Mitsukurinidae, a lineage some 125 million years old. It is characterised by its pink flabby skin and long, sword-like snout. The jaws of this beast can protrude to almost the length of its snout, making it easier to swallow it’s prey. Its teeth are separated into two sections: the front ones are like thin, jagged nails and at the rear they are small and slightly flattened for grinding flesh. Luckily this gruesome looking shark swims at a depth too low to pose a threat to humans.
2. Colossal Squid
An inhabitant of the Southern Ocean, the colossal squid is the largest squid species on Earth measuring an astounding 14 metres (46 ft) in length. The eyes of this oceanic behemoth can be as much as 40 cm (16 inches) in diameter, making them the largest eyes of any animal in the world! This sinister deep sea dweller has long tentacles with suckers lined with small, sharp teeth and some even have swivelling hooks while others have three pointed prongs. It is unclear what the squid uses these hooks and prongs for but it is thought that they may be used for defence or help catching it’s prey.
1. Blobfish
This very weird animal inhabits the deep waters off mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. They live at depths between 600 and 1,200 m (2,000 and 3,900 ft) where the pressure is 60 to 120 times greater than at sea level. The blobfish is able to survive at such depths because its body is primarily gelatinous with a density slightly less than that of water. This allows it to float in water without exerting any energy. In 2013 the blobfish was voted the “World’s Ugliest Animal” and became the mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.
They were some seriously weird sea creatures. What did you think? Can you think of any we missed?
