7 Rarest Sea Creatures in the World
The ocean is dark and full of terrors….as well as some of the rarest creatures in the entire world. Poke around the chilly depths long enough and you’ll be sure to encounter astounding animals that make you think you’ve landed on a different planet, or maybe even a different universe entirely.
These oceanic wonders are rare and wonderful, and remind us that the salty seas are home to marine life that’s out of this world. These are the seven rarest creatures you’ll find in the seven seas.
Some are totally terrifying. Some are strangely beautiful. Some are as old as the oceans themselves. All are extraordinary and awe-inspiring. Are you ready to be amazed? It’s time to jump in headfirst.
1. Frilled Shark
Our number ten pick is a straight-up prehistoric predator that’s part eel, part shark, and all nightmare. These massive marvels have a diaphanous tail that helps them snake through the water and appear out of the darkness like a horrific aquatic hallucination. Fortunately, Frilled Sharks are super rare and live in the deepest reaches of the world’s oceans.
2. Dumbo Octopus
Image by flickr
Not all of the rarest animals in the seven seas are scary. Some are downright adorable! Enter the Dumbo Octopus, a cute lil representative of the umbrella octopus family that actually swims using giant fins that look a lot like, you guessed it, Dumbo!
3. Viperfish
Image by flickr
The Viperfish is a maritime nightmare personified. This skeletal creature is one of the creepiest creatures on the planet, hands down! Did we mention that his jaw can hinge out, exposing rows of razor-sharp teeth- the better for puncturing unsuspecting prey. Once the Viperfish’s prey is in his grasp, there’s no going back.
Related: 20 Rarest and Most Unusual Sea Creatures
4. Narwhal
Image by publicdomainpictures.net
How about a little palate cleanser after the Viperfish? Narwhals are the stuff of fairytales, related to the friendly dolphin, orcas, and porpoises. If that’s not enough for you to be thinking “awww”, there’s more.
Narwhals are fascinating creatures that are bestowed with one giant tusk on their heads. That makes them the unicorns of the sea, and some of the most cherished animals in the world. See a Narwhal? Make a wish!
5. Anglerfish
Image by flickr
If you see a light dangling in the deep depths of the ocean, beware. The ghostly image might just be attached to an Anglerfish: one of the scariest denizens of the deep, and a true nightmare fish.
Anglerfish are bony monstrosities who attract prey to their gaping mouths by turning on the spooky light right above their jaws. If that isn’t freaky enough, get ready to lose your lunch.
6. Pink See-Through Fantasia
This pretty creature is one of the most unique animals on the planet, and certainly a rare oceanic wonder. The Pink See-Through Fantasia is a translucent sea cucumber that’s incredible due to its rosy hue and that fact that you can see all of its organs through its body. As creepy as that sounds, the Pink See-Thorugh Fantasia is actually quite beautiful.
Related: 11 Beaches with the Biggest Waves on Earth
7. Goblin Shark
These “living fossils” are the rarest shark on the planet… and also one of the most unnerving. We guess that’s what happens when you combine two of the freakiest things in the world: goblins and sharks.
As the name suggests, the Goblin Shark is scary to behold: a prehistoric monster swimming right up from the depths of your nightmares. They are also super ancient- outlasting most animals in the world. Goblin Sharks are just about one-hundred and twenty-five million years old.