Scientists know more about space than the ocean, according to Columbia University’s Earth Institute. So in a sense, most of the creatures lurking below the surface may also be aliens. Meanwhile, researchers from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada believe that 91% of these marine animals are still unknown to us.
DO YOU LOVE SEA CREATURES? SO DO WE LETS SIMP OVER THEM TOGETHER
There are almost 235,000 or more species that we know of, and a lot of them have adapted to their environment with absolutely stunning camouflage, bioluminescence and mating behaviours altogether leading to some seriously strange outlooks.
Below I have listed for you 5 of my favourite deep sea creatures which are also weird!
Let's begin...
1
Christmas Tree Worm
Scientists found this strange creature at the Great Barrier Reef’s Lizard Island and named it, aptly, the Christmas tree worm, I mean just look at it what else would you name it?
The spiral “branches” are actually the worm’s breathing and feeding apparatuses, while the worm itself lives in a tube. These tree-like crowns are covered in hair-like appendages called radioles. These are used for breathing and catching prey, but they can be withdrawn if the Christmas tree worm feels threatened.
If you are already amazed, then wait until you see the Flamingo Tongue Snail
2
Flamingo Tongue Snail
With a name like flamingo tongue snail and the flamboyant colouration to match, you might think this Cyphoma gibbosum has a shell worthy of collecting. Not so. All of the flamingo tongue snail’s colour comes from the soft parts of its body, which envelop its shell.
When threatened, it can retract its mantle flaps, exposing its true shell. Which will disappoint you a bit in terms of its not-so-attractive colour!
Now that it's Halloween! Let's talk about a few of the creepy ones out there
3
Vampire Squid
Strangely enough, this big man is neither a squid nor an octopus, despite its appearance.
Scientists have designated the vampire squid as a completely separate animal, even though it has eight arms and two tentacles.
Caution:- the name can be confounding—these creatures don’t suck blood and actually are pretty passive hunters, considering they’re filter feeders.
Facts:- the name comes from the skin between its arms, which resembles a cape.
Oh, and yeah, this little dude lives in the pitch-black waters of the mesopelagic zone.
Have you heard of the 'sea toad'? Nope! it's not a toad, but it's called a toad...
okay, let me make it easy for you.
4
Coffinfish
Also known as “the sea toad,” these deepwater fishes are relatives of the frogfish. These creatures have a small lure, protruding from a depression behind their eyes.
Coffinfish uses it to lure prey toward them, and because there is so little light at the depths where they live, it allows them to quickly attack.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, these fish also “boast such sizable gills that they can increase their body volume by up to 30% upon inhaling a significant quantity of water.”
Now that would be the equivalent of a human inflating their lungs to become the size of their full abdomen—not exactly possible.
Let's talk about a Japanese friend here! Most of us might have heard about this one before.
5
Japanese Spider Crabs
These giants as the name indicates are native to Japan and are considered delicacies throughout the country.
These guys can grow to a whopping 12 feet long, what more? they are not picky eaters, they eat almost anything from small shrimps, frogs and most of the time bodies of other large marine animals, which means they don't have to kill anything themselves.
Have you heard of any weird sea creatures apart from the above? let us know in the comments!
Have a great week ahead!
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