10 of the Scariest Sea Creatures Lurking in the Ocean's Depths

The first scary part of this sarcastic fringehead is not knowing what the heck it's doing. Joe Belanger / Shutterstock

The ocean is full of beauty, but it also hides some of the scariest sea creatures on the planet. Many of these animals lurk far below the ocean's surface, in the dark, high-pressure world of the deep sea.

They’re creepy, deadly, or just plain strange—or sometimes all three at once.

Here’s a lit of sea creatures that would make most people think twice before swimming in unfamiliar waters.

1. Frilled Shark

This deep sea creature looks like an eel with shark teeth. It has a mouth full of backward-facing fangs and a body shaped like it hasn’t evolved in millions of years.

It rarely comes near the surface, but when it does, people mistake it for something from a horror movie.

2. Giant Isopod

Imagine a pill bug the size of a cat. Now imagine it underwater.

Giant isopods live in the deep sea, crawling along the seafloor. These scavengers feed on fallen animals, using their many legs and tough, armored bodies to survive crushing depths.

3. Bloodybelly Comb Jelly

jellyfish — Bloodybelly comb jelly. Takokat / Shutterstock

This tiny, deep-sea comb jelly has a bright red coloration, helping it hide in the dark ocean. The red color helps it camouflage, as red light disappears quickly in the deep sea.

Unlike more aggressive predators, it uses shimmering comb-like fins to swim and capture food particles.

4. Great White Shark

It might live closer to the ocean’s surface, but the great white shark is still one of the most feared predators in the sea. With powerful jaws and the ability to sense blood from hundreds of meters away, it’s a top-level carnivore.

Attacks on humans are rare but unforgettable.

5. Pacific Viperfish

Armed with needle-sharp teeth and a hinged lower jaw, the Pacific viperfish can take on prey half its size.

It lives thousands of feet deep and uses light-producing organs to attract prey in the darkness. Its body is long and thin, perfect for quick bursts of speed.

6. Dumbo Octopus

Don’t let the name fool you. This deep-sea octopus may look cute with its ear-like fins, but it’s built to survive one of Earth’s most extreme environments. It hovers just above the sand, hunting worms, crustaceans and other sea floor dwellers.

7. Goblin Shark

This odd-looking shark has a long, flat snout and jaws that spring forward to snatch prey.

It’s rarely seen and inhabits deep waters worldwide, including around Japan and Australia. Its pink skin and eerie profile make it one of the creepiest creatures in the ocean.

8. Black Dragonfish

With light-producing organs, fang-like teeth and a long, ribbon-like body, the black dragonfish looks like it swam out of a nightmare. Females do the hunting while males barely eat.

It thrives at extreme depths, where it uses bioluminescence to lure in prey.

9. Sarcastic Fringehead

This aggressive fish hides in shells or crevices and explodes into action when threatened. It opens its mouth wide to scare rivals, showing off a neon-colored display.

Found off the Pacific coast, it’s more bark than bite—but still intimidating.

10. Fangtooth Fish

This fish is all teeth and attitude. Its massive fangs don’t fit in its mouth, so its skull has special grooves to accommodate them.

Despite its terrifying look, it feeds mostly on small fish and crustaceans. It’s one of the deepest-living fish ever discovered.

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