10 Scariest Fish Lurking in Rivers, Deep Ocean Waters, and Shells

With a head shaped like a power drill and a mouth that shoots forward like a slingshot, the goblin shark is every bit as weird as it sounds. This deep-sea creature uses its protrusible jaws to snag prey like squid and crabs. Its skin looks pale and rubbery, almost translucent.

Goblin sharks live far beneath the surface, lurking along the seafloor. Swimmers won’t run into them by accident, but if you did, you might respond with a breathless scream.

A throwback to prehistoric times, the frilled shark looks like an eel mixed with a shark and a horror film extra. Its rows of backward-facing teeth trap anything unlucky enough to swim into its mouth. These predators thrive in the deep ocean and swallow prey whole, including small fish and squid.

They’re rarely spotted by humans and usually stay out of the way unless disturbed.

This deep-sea predator is a bit of a paradox. It has the largest teeth-to-body ratio of any fish species and yet mostly feeds on small prey. Those massive fangs are so big they need built-in skull slots to close its mouth.

It lives in the darkest parts of the ocean where scary creatures thrive. Despite its aggressive appearance, it’s not dangerous to humans.

The anglerfish might be the ocean’s most iconic spooky species. It uses a glowing lure that dangles from its head to attract small fish in pitch-black water. Once prey gets close, its sharp teeth snap shut.

In some deep-sea anglerfish species, the tiny male permanently attaches to the female and fuses with her body, joining their blood vessels and essentially becoming one organism.

This species has become internet-famous for looking like a sad, melting face. But in its natural deep-sea environment, the blobfish looks much more normal. The pressure at those depths keeps its body firm.

It floats just above the seafloor, feeding on crustaceans and other bits of food drifting by. Out of water, it collapses into a gelatinous blob, which gave it a reputation as one of the ugliest fish on the planet.

This freshwater fish from the Amazon is nicknamed the vampire fish for good reason. It has two fangs that can grow up to 6 in (15 cm) long. It uses those to impale its prey, mostly smaller fish.

While not a threat to humans, one look at its face and you’ll see why it lands on every list of scary fish.

Not all scary fish come from the deep. Piranhas are commonly found in South American rivers and are known for their razor-sharp teeth and aggressive group feeding.

Most species eat crustaceans, plants and insects, but under stress, they can bite chunks out of other animals. Their powerful jaws and feeding frenzies give them a reputation for being absolutely terrifying.

This fish looks like it wants to pick a fight. With a huge head and powerful teeth, the Atlantic wolffish uses its jaws to crush crabs, sea urchins and shellfish.

It lives in cold, deep water along the North Atlantic, where it hides among rocks and sand. It might look aggressive, but it’s more interested in food than in humans.

This sleek predator thrives where sunlight never reaches. Its sharp teeth and bioluminescent spots help it lure and attack prey in total darkness.

Females grow much larger than males, and only the females hunt for food while the tiny males never feed on their own. It can swallow fish nearly its own size and has a hinged head that helps expand its jaw.

Don’t let the funny name fool you. When threatened, this small but aggressive fish opens its mouth wide, displaying neon-colored inner jaws to scare off intruders.

It lives in the Pacific, hiding in shells or crevices until it needs to defend its turf. The display is enough to make even bigger predators think twice.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.