Unknown monsters of the ocean. Creepy monsters of the deep sea
Humanity is striving with all its might to know solar system, and then the entire Universe. It seems to people that somewhere there are the most important secrets and riddles that must be solved. But how much do we know about our own planet? She is also capable of surprising not only ordinary people, but also famous scientists, presenting various surprises. After all, every now and then stories appear where monsters unknown to science appear, terrifying and trembling the entire population of the planet. It’s as if they penetrated our world from another reality. But is this really so? What is he like? animal world of our planet? And is there room for various monsters in it?
The real monsters of the world - who are they?
Human civilization has populated the planet so densely that it has driven many representatives of the animal world to the most remote corners of the Earth. Some of them simply disappeared from the face of the planet, while others are threatened with extinction. Zoo defenders are trying their best to preserve rare species animals, but not a single official list includes the monsters that humanity has been talking about for many centuries.
If you carefully study all the eyewitness accounts, you may get the impression that animal monsters have always existed. They were seen by people of different professions and social status, and each such meeting was accompanied by fear of contact with something unknown. Only at the end of the nineteenth century did scientists begin to take evidence of encounters with monsters seriously and even tried to photograph and video these extraordinary creatures. Every documented evidence of the existence of monsters issued to society was carefully studied, but most often classified as falsification. Still scientific world I was never able to get real confirmation of the fact that we do not know everything about the creatures living on the planet. But this does not at all bother adventure lovers who are ready to spend a lot of time on expeditions in order to take one successful photo and give the world the truth.
Monster Classification
The most famous monsters in the world have long had their own classification. Seekers of the unknown divided them into the following three categories:
- underwater;
- ground;
- anthropoid.
Of course, these categories are very conditional, but they still give some idea of what the most people look like and where they live. scary monsters peace. We collected information about those monsters that were noticed by people and repeatedly invaded their normal lives. It’s worth starting with underwater creatures, which are considered the most common.
Behind last century There have been enough references to various lizards that live in lakes. Characteristic is the fact that they are found only in freshwater bodies of water. But experts say that in sea water the lizards will feel great.
Mentions of underwater lizards are found in different nations. The Scots, Yakuts, Canadians, Kazakhs and Chinese have similar evidence. This suggests that the legend about monsters living in lakes has a basis in reality.
Scientists, having analyzed sketches of monsters and video footage provided by eyewitnesses, came to the conclusion that they can be classified as the last dinosaurs on Earth. They resemble ancient plesiosaurs, which lived in large numbers in the water bodies of our planet. These creatures had a long, elongated body with small limbs in the form of flippers and a small head. The length of the neck of such lizards was similar to the body of the monster.
This structure of the monster explains why many eyewitnesses called it a snake. After all, the body and head of a monster usually appear on the surface, truly resembling a huge snake.
Loch Ness Monster
If you are interested in the most famous monsters, then you have probably heard about the Scottish lake Loch Ness. The monster that lives in its waters is known throughout the world. The lake itself is quite picturesque; it is more than two hundred meters deep and is the largest in the UK.
The Loch Ness monster was discovered at the beginning of the last century. Then it alarmed the company resting on the shore by leaning out of the water. From that moment on, crowds of adventurers flocked to the lake, dreaming of capturing the mysterious monster.
Four years later, Wilson managed to photograph the monster, and these photographs alarmed the public. They were published in all newspapers and magazines, and the scientific community tried to explain the presence of a strange creature in the waters of the lake. Almost thirty years later, the Loch Ness monster was caught on camera, where it was clear how fast it moved under water.
A little later, another video of the monster hit all the major television channels in Britain, and people again rushed to Scotland in search of a sensation. Over the past hundred years, more than four thousand people have claimed to have seen the Nessie monster (as the Scots affectionately called him) with their own eyes.
Scientists believe that the monster is completely harmless and lives in a reservoir with its big family. According to the official version, it fell into the lake as a result of movement tectonic plates and could not get out of the trap. During their existence, many generations of monsters have adapted to the changed habitat and food.
Lake Champlain - Nessie's brother
In Canada there is the famous Lake Champlain, which has joined the list of places where famous monsters of the world live. At the end of the nineteenth century, information appeared that the sheriff saw a fifty-meter snake with humps on its back in the waters of the lake. This evidence only confirmed the numerous words of eyewitnesses, which had accumulated in large quantities since the beginning of the seventeenth century.
The monster was named Champ; it appeared annually on the surface of the reservoir, allowing people to record new details about themselves. Thanks to this, it turned out that the monster has dark skin, a very large body and an elongated head with bumps and growths.
Scientists couldn't ignore this a large number of information about the monster, and in the seventies of the last century a initiative group on the study of Champa. Seven years later, one of the local residents managed to photograph the monster, and the authenticity of the photo was proven in the laboratories of the Smithson Institute. Thanks to the availability of special technologies, scientists suggested the size of the animal, which seemed simply incredible - from five to seventeen meters.
Twelve years ago, a fisherman managed to film the monster, and FBI analysts proved the authenticity of the recording. Now scientists from all over the world are trying to figure out which class of the animal world Champa can be classified as.
Ogopogo - Canada's most famous "resident"
Scientists believe that if anywhere underwater monsters can live, it is in Canada. Numerous lakes in this country were once formed as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, and it is possible that some ancient monsters could remain in these reservoirs. The most famous Canadian pangolin is the Ogopogo from Okanagan Lake.
This monster, according to eyewitnesses, resembles Nessie and Champa - the same long body with fins and a small head. The Indians said that one day a monster capsized the boat of their leader and destroyed him. From this time on, the tribes tried to negotiate with Ogopogo, sacrificing animals to him and refusing to fish in some parts of the lake.
It is worth noting that this monster was seen quite often. There are especially numerous eyewitness accounts who crossed the lake by ferry at the beginning of the twentieth century. During this period, the monster constantly rose to the surface, and more than two hundred people spoke about it. At the end of the last century, video footage appeared in which a monster is clearly visible swimming underwater. Until now, information periodically comes from the shores of the lake about the next appearance of the monster, but science cannot provide a rationale for its existence.
Lake monsters: how many are there?
Today the scientific world knows about seven lakes located in different corners planets where various monsters live. Three lakes belong to Ireland, where locals quite often see underwater monsters. For example, in Lough Ree a large animal of an unknown species was seen even by three priests in the middle of the last century. Scientists took their evidence seriously and at the beginning of the 2000s they assembled a real expedition to the shores of the ancient reservoir. But, unfortunately, they were never able to capture the monster.
In our country, Lake Labynkyr in Yakutia became the monster’s home. Among local residents There have always been legends about an extraordinary creature that lives in the depths of the lake and on the rarest occasions looks out to the surface. In the nineteenth century, eyewitnesses called it the Labynkyr Devil, but no one has yet managed to photograph the creature.
The long-horned sabertooth is the most terrifying monster of the deep sea
Besides unknown to science monsters, there are also those that have been studied for a long time. For example, the sabertooth fish lives in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, appearance which can cause horror in any inhabitant of the planet.
Usually this monster does not grow more than forty centimeters in length, but is dark in color and very menacing look. The fact is that huge fangs grow in the mouth of the fish, which do not even allow adult completely close your jaws. Scientists have found that the brain of this fish has two pockets that accommodate the tips of its fangs. This predator lives at a depth of more than five hundred meters; it has also been encountered at greater depths - it feels quite comfortable having descended to five thousand meters.
It is worth noting that this predator is very vulnerable to large fish. They eat it with pleasure, so the saber tooth prefers to hide in the water column and hunt only small fish.
Bigfoot - fact or fiction?
Yeti (also called Bigfoot) is a humanoid creature covered with fur and living in the mountainous regions of the planet. The yeti is especially common in North America. The local Indian tribes know a lot of legends about creatures of unprecedented power who lived high in the mountains and sought to avoid human eyes.
Eyewitnesses claim to have even seen entire families snow people, which allows us to draw conclusions about the abundance of this species. But, unfortunately, science has not yet received documentary evidence of the existence of these monsters.
In the middle of the last century, a short film was shot in which an unusual creature moving through the forest was caught on camera. Experts carefully studied the film and remained in deep doubt about its authenticity. To date, no one has been able to photograph the Yeti or find its remains.
Vampire monster living in South America
Puerto Ricans scare naughty children with stories about the Chupacabra. It is believed that this monster lives near human settlements and destroys livestock. Usually the chupacabra steals goats and drinks all the blood from them, which forms the basis of its daily diet. Sometimes the monster completely tears its victim apart, but does not eat it. Local residents claim that the chupacabra feeds on the blood of rabbits, chickens, and can even steal a child.
It has not yet been possible to photograph the Chupacabra on a camera or video camera, but eyewitnesses describe it as large creature with large claws and fangs. Absolutely everyone notes the huge and glowing eyes monster, with which he can see perfectly in the dark.
Residents of South America believe that this monster was the result of secret experiments by the American military. But the United States is in no hurry to confirm or deny this fact.
Monster sculptures
The world's most famous monsters can also be objects of art. In many European cities There are various sculptural groups depicting devils and monsters. Some of them are historical monuments.
All the inhabitants of the planet know the monsters on the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. These terrifying chimeras sit on the facade of the building and represent winged creatures with bared muzzles and fangs. Parisians consider these monsters one of the most striking symbols of the city. According to some polls, they are more popular than the Eiffel Tower.
In Norway, in the city of Torheim, a cathedral was built, which with its sculptures resembles its Parisian “brother”. Its facade is covered with images of various evil spirits, which (according to legend) were supposed to scare away real evil spirits. Tourists say that many of the figures on the cathedral look extremely ominous.
In Brest, on Gogol Street, there is a sculpture of the devil. This unclean spirit is made extremely realistically and is a symbol of the city, attracting crowds of tourists here.
Humanity has always lived side by side with various monsters. Some of them are dangerous to people, while others have not done anything bad to them, but still strike terror into the hearts with their very appearance. Scientists are trying to catch monsters in order to finally obtain proof of their existence and study how the new kind representatives of the animal world. However, the monsters are in no hurry to become a world sensation; they continue to lead their solitary lifestyle, established over millennia.
The modern ocean is home to many incredible creatures, many of which we have no idea about. You never know what lies there - in the dark, cold depths. However, none of them can compare with the ancient monsters that dominated the world's oceans millions of years ago.
In this article we will tell you about lizards, carnivorous fish and predatory whales that terrorized marine life in prehistoric times.
1. Giant stingray
What is it: 5 meters in diameter, a poisonous spike 25 long on the tail and enough strength to drag a boat filled with people? In this case, it is an eerie-looking flat sea creature that, from prehistoric times to this day, lives in salty waters from the Mekong River to Australia itself.
Stingrays have lived quietly in Australian waters since the extinction of the dinosaurs and the huge predatory sharks from which they descended. They originated in prehistoric times, but they managed to survive all the ice ages, and even the terrible eruption of the Toba volcano. They are very dangerous and should not be approached. Even if you think they are not nearby, you could be wrong - they are excellent at camouflage.
They are dangerous because they can attack you poisonous thorn with a neurotoxin or simply damage vital organs. The advantage is that these prehistoric monsters are not so aggressive and will not try to eat you.
2. Melville's Leviathan (Livyatan melvillei)
Earlier in this article we already talked about predatory whales. Melville's Leviathan is the most terrifying of them all. Imagine a huge hybrid of an orca and a sperm whale. This monster was not just a carnivore - it killed and ate other whales. It had the largest teeth of any animal known to us.
Their length sometimes reached 37 centimeters! They lived in the same oceans at the same time and ate the same food as megalodons, thus competing with the largest predatory shark of the time.
Their huge heads were equipped with the same echo-sounding devices as modern whales, which made them more successful in hunting muddy water. In case it wasn't clear to anyone from the start, this animal was named after Leviathan, the giant sea monster from the Bible and Herman Melville, who wrote the famous Moby Dick. If Moby Dick had been one of the Leviathans, he would certainly have eaten the Pequod and its entire crew.
3. Helicoprion
This shark, 4.5 meters long, had a lower jaw that was a kind of curl, strewn with teeth. She looked like a hybrid of a shark and a buzz saw, and we all know that when dangerous power tools become part of the predator on top the food chain, the whole world is trembling.
Helicoprion's teeth were serrated, which clearly indicates the carnivory of this sea monster, but scientists still do not know for certain whether the jaw was pushed forward as in the photo, or moved slightly deeper into the mouth.
These creatures survived the Triassic mass extinction, which could indicate their high intelligence, but the reason could also be their residence.
4. Kronosaurus
Kronosaurus is another short-necked lizard, similar in appearance to Liopleurosaurus. What is noteworthy is that its true length is also known only approximately. It is believed that it reached up to 10 meters, and its teeth reached up to 30 cm in length. That is why it was named after Kronos, the king of the ancient Greek titans.
Now guess where this monster lived. If your assumption was related to Australia, then you are absolutely right. Kronosaurus's head was about 3 meters long and it was capable of swallowing an entire adult human. In addition, after this there was room inside the animal for another half.
Also, due to the fact that the flippers of kronosaurs were similar in structure to the flippers of turtles, scientists concluded that they were very distantly related and assumed that kronosaurs also went to land to lay eggs. In any case, we can be sure that no one dared to destroy the nests of these sea monsters.
5. Dunkleosteus
Dunkleosteus was a ten-meter predatory monster. Huge sharks lived much longer than Dunkleosteus, but this did not mean that they were best predators. Instead of teeth, dunkleosteus had bony growths, like some species of modern turtles. Scientists have calculated that their bite force was 1,500 kilograms per square centimeter, which put them on par with crocodiles and tyrannosaurs and made them one of the creatures with the strongest bite.
Based on facts about their jaw muscles, scientists concluded that Dunkleosteus could open its mouth in one fiftieth of a second, swallowing everything in its path. As the fish grew older, the single bony dental plate was replaced by a segmented one, which made it easier to obtain food and bite through the thick shells of other fish. In the arms race called the prehistoric ocean, Dunkleosteus was a real well-armored, heavy tank.
6. Mauisaurus haasti
Mauisaurus was named after ancient god The Maori Maui, who, according to legend, used a hook to pull out the skeletons of New Zealand from the bottom of the ocean, so just from the name you can understand that this animal was huge. The Mauisaurus's neck was about 15 meters long, which is quite a lot compared to its total length of 20 meters.
His incredible neck had many vertebrae, which gave it special flexibility. Imagine a turtle without a shell with amazing long neck– this is approximately what this creepy creature looked like.
He lived during Cretaceous period, which meant that the unfortunate creatures jumping into the water to escape the velociraptors and tyrannosaurs were forced to come face to face with these sea monsters. Mauisaurs' habitats were limited to the waters of New Zealand, indicating that all inhabitants were in danger.
7. Rakoscorpions (Jaekelopterus rhenaniae)
It's not surprising that the words "sea scorpion" only evoke negative emotions, but this representative of the list was the creepiest of them all. Jaekelopterus rhenaniae is a special species of crustacean scorpion that was the largest and most fearsome arthropod of its time: 2.5 meters of pure clawed terror under its shell.
Many of us are terrified of small ants or large spiders, however, imagine the full range of fear experienced by a person who would not be lucky enough to meet this sea monster.
On the other hand, these creepy creatures went extinct even before the event that killed all the dinosaurs and 90% of life on Earth. Only a few species of crabs survived, which are not so scary. There is no evidence that the ancients sea scorpions were poisonous, but based on the structure of their tail, we can conclude that perhaps this really was the case.
8. Basilosaurus
Despite the name and appearance, they are not reptiles, as it might seem at first glance. In fact, these are real whales (and not the most frightening ones in this world!). Basilosaurs were the predatory ancestors of modern whales and measured between 15 and 25 meters in length. It is described as a whale, somewhat resembling a snake due to its length and ability to wriggle.
It’s hard to imagine that, while swimming in the ocean, one could stumble upon a huge creature that looked like a snake, a whale and a crocodile at the same time, 20 meters long. The fear of the ocean would stick with you for a long time.
Physical evidence suggests that basilosaurs did not have the same cognitive abilities as modern whales. In addition, they did not have echolocation capabilities and could only move in two dimensions (this means that they could not actively dive or dive to great depths). So this terrible predator was as stupid as a bag of prehistoric tools and would not be able to pursue you if you dived or came onto land.
9. Liopleurodon
If there was a water scene in the Jurassic Park movie that included some of the sea monsters of the time, Liopleurodon would definitely appear in it. Although scientists argue about the actual length of this animal (some say it was up to 15 meters), most agree that it was about 6 meters, with a fifth of the length being the pointed head of Liopleurodon.
Many people think that 6 meters is not so much, but the most small representative These monsters are capable of swallowing an adult. Scientists have recreated a model of Liopleurodon's fins and tested them.
During the research, they found that these prehistoric animals were not so fast, but they were not lacking in agility. They were also capable of making short, quick and sharp attacks similar to those made by modern crocodiles, which makes them even more terrifying.
10. Megalodon
Megalodon is perhaps the most famous creature on this list, but it's hard to imagine that a shark the size of a school bus actually ever existed in reality. Nowadays, there are many different scientific films and programs about these amazing monsters.
Contrary to popular belief, megalodons did not live at the same time as dinosaurs. They dominated the seas from 25 to 1.5 million years ago, which means they missed the last dinosaur by 40 million years. In addition, this means that the first people found these sea monsters alive.
Megalodon's home was the warm ocean, which existed until the last ice age in the early Pleistocene, and it is believed that it was he who deprived these huge sharks food and the ability to reproduce. Perhaps in this way nature protected modern humanity from terrible predators.
11. Dakosaurus
Traces of the existence of dacosaurs were first found in Germany. These predatory creatures, resembling a hybrid of reptiles and fish, dominated the oceans during Jurassic period. Their remains were found on huge territory from Russia to England and Argentina.
Although this sea monster has been compared to modern crocodiles, its length averaged about 5 meters. Its huge and unique teeth have led scientists to conclude that Dacosaurs were at the top of the food chain in their time.
12. Nothosaurus
Despite the fact that the body length of nothosaurs was only 4 meters, they were aggressive hunters. Their mouth was full of sharp teeth and they fed mainly on fish and squid. It was believed that nothosaurs were experts in ambushes and their bodies were ideal for sneaking up on prey and taking them by surprise. It is generally accepted that nothosaurs are inextricably related to pliosaurs, another genus sea predators. The remains found indicate that they lived in Triassic period more than 200 million years ago.
Material translated from the site: toptenz.net
As soon as the horror film ends, we calm the thumping heart - it’s all fiction, it’s make-believe, this doesn’t happen in life... Especially for you and only in the deep-sea edition of DARKER, in the arena of the underwater circus of nightmares - real creatures, creatures of the gloomy depths that await your fleshy bodies!
Every time he plunges into a body of water, the author of these lines panics and imagines death. Maniacal divers (a legacy of the “Amsterdam Nightmare” I watched as a child), algae wetly sliding over the body are the tentacles of an underwater creature, and further and deeper, bloodthirsty sharks await. But summer is coming. Melting in the city is unbearable. Everyone will take a vacation or go on vacation. Will go to the deep blue sea. When he gets tired of lying on the sand, he dives into the cool waves. And there, and there...
Goblin Shark
Brownie shark or scapanorhynchus (lat. Mitsukurina owstoni) - deep sea shark, the only representative of the genus Mitsukurina, the only genus of the family Mitsukurinidae. The muzzle ends in a long beak-like outgrowth, and the long jaws can extend far. The color is close to pink ( blood vessels shine through translucent skin). The largest known specimen reached a length of 3.8 meters and weighed 210 kg. It is found at depths of over 200 m throughout the world from Australian Pacific waters to the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic.
Black sea devil
Ceraciformes or, simply put, angler fish. One of those creatures that you immediately think of when thinking about deep sea monsters. A terrible grin. Damn decoy flashlight. AND unusual shape bodies are the result of natural deformation: these fish live at great depths: from 1.5 to 3 kilometers. But as soon as you bring them to the surface... they become even uglier: the difference between internal and external pressure swells their bodies.
Giant squid
It was these animals that gave rise to legends about monsters who, with their powerful tentacles, drag sea ships to the bottom. Frequent characters in ancient engravings marine theme. The masterminds behind the stories of the Kraken. For a long time they were considered mythical creatures. They were first described by the Danish zoologist Japetus Smit Stenstrup in 1857. But almost 100 years passed before their existence was documented by Norwegian researchers. The body of the mighty mollusk washed ashore. But almost half a century passed until, in 2004, the first images were obtained by Japanese oceanologists. Eating giant squid fish, other squid and octopus. And their only natural enemy... sperm whale! Are you saying that sunken ships are just fairy tales?..
Mantis crab
Mantis sea crayfish (Odontodactylus scyllarus) - I want to talk more about this amazing animal. But I see that he has already taken it with his jaws fighting stance. There is a known case when this small (about 20 cm) crayfish broke an aquarium glass with one blow! And the unlucky divers, fearing decompression sickness, hurried to surface closer to the hospital to urgently reattach their finger. But this animal is worthy of the pen of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Pay attention to it unusual eyes. The marine mantis crayfish distinguishes 12 primary colors, focuses simultaneously on the foreground and background, sees in infrared, ultraviolet spectrum, and even in polarized light.
Giant isopod
Depth favors size. The force of gravity is compensated by the Archimedean force. That's why there are so many giant ones here. Isopods or isopods are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of crayfish: from boogers to those, as in the photo, the size of two palms of an adult man. Despite the fact that they are predators, giant isopods usually live in places where conditions are not conducive to good hunting. Therefore, as soon as “ocean manna” descends in the form of carrion, a hundred vile arthropods gather around the carcass of a dead whale or shark.
Iloglot
Needletooth
Even though the above image is - computer work talented Ajdin Barucija from London, take a look at. Perhaps I will admire the work of the English artist and console myself with the fact that at least it is not real. The long-horned, or common sabertooth, or needletooth (lat. Anoplogaster cornuta) is a predatory fish that lives in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. It reaches a length of 15 cm, the weight of an adult is about 120 g. This fish is recognized as one of the most terrible animals. And the ratio of teeth to body among fish is the largest.
Sarcastic Bordered Head
Let's try to translate the English Sarcastic fringehead roughly like this. We don’t know who found them “sarcastic.” This fish behaves extremely aggressively. Defending its territory, it opens its mouth in an unusual, terrifying expression. How can one not remember the series? It is worth noting that an imaginary increase in one’s own size is a fairly common technique in the animal world. When two “bordered heads” grapple in a fight for territory or a female, they close their open mouths as if in passionate kiss. They live in the Pacific Ocean off the coast North America.
Moray
via Wikipedia
Huge underwater “snakes” fascinate and frighten at the same time. They can grow up to 3 meters and weigh about 50 kilograms. An experienced diver will never get close to a moray eel. Moray eels - predatory fish and extremely dangerous. They attack with lightning speed and frenzy. There are known cases of people dying from attacks by moray eels. In ancient times, it was believed that their bite was poisonous. After all, moray eels resemble snakes in their appearance. The reality is harsher. In the blink of an eye, a moray eel can tear human flesh so severely that the diver bleeds to death.
Japanese spider crab
The legs of the Japanese spider crab (an inhabitant of depths from 150 to 800 meters) can reach 3 meters in length. He lives about 100 years. This means that one individual can terrify several generations of arachnophobes. Still, Ray Bradbury was right in the story “A Matter of Taste” about the planet of huge intelligent spiders:
« - They are our friends!
- Oh God, yes.
And again tremble, tremble, tremble.
“But nothing will ever work out with them.” They're just not people».
Surely many have heard, and some have seen photos of sea monsters. However, most people consider them to be fiction, a kind of “horror story”. Is it really? We will talk about this in our article.
Prehistoric sea monsters
We will begin our conversation by getting to know the animals that have already disappeared from our planet. Millions of years ago huge sea monsters lived in the depths of the seas and oceans. One of them is Dakosaurus. His remains were first discovered in Germany. Then they were found over a fairly wide area - from Russia to Argentina.
Sometimes it is compared to modern crocodile, with the only difference that the Dacosaurus reached five meters in length. Its powerful teeth and jaws gave researchers reason to believe that it was the top marine predator of its time.
Nothosaurus
These sea monsters were slightly smaller than the Dacosaurus. Their bodies did not exceed four meters in length. But nothosaurus was also formidable and aggressive predator. Its main weapon was externally directed teeth. The diet of these animals consisted of fish and squid. Scientists claim that nothosaurs attacked their prey from ambush. Possessing the smooth body of a reptile, they would sneak up on prey silently, attack and eat it. Nothosaurs were close relatives of pliosaurs (a type of deep-sea marine predator). As a result of the study of fossil remains, it became obvious that these sea monsters lived in the Triassic period.
The legends and myths of each country are full of various monsters living both on land and in water. Research into the depths of the seas and oceans is still being carried out, but to discover any unknown creature failed.
However, in nature there are many animals, fish and unusual organisms that have. No, they are not a myth or a fairy tale. They are real. Is it possible that these are exactly what people once saw? Is it possible that these creatures formed the basis of many stories? After all, that’s where all the horror stories come from.
In today's article we will introduce you to the most creepy, truly frightening, and most importantly real.
Pike blenny
“A fish is like a fish,” you say. Not very beautiful, but not scary either. Yes, but only until she opens her mouth. The wrinkled cheeks hanging down the sides are not just folds of skin, they are a terrible maw, ready to swallow everything that gets in its way.
Neoclinus blanchardi is a member of the family of genopsia, or pike blennies. The fish are aggressive, capable of attacking even divers.
They live in the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of North America: from San Francisco to the Mexican state of Baja California.
The depth at which sea monsters live reaches 70 meters.
The body of monsters is smooth, practically without scales. The body length is about 30 cm. Pike blennies are so flat that they can sometimes resemble conger eels.
But most interesting fact is how they use their huge mouths. When faced with fellow tribesmen, they open their mouths and seem to “kiss.” Whoever has more wins. Thus they fight for territory.
Looking at these creatures, I want to believe that they came to us from another planet. Unfortunately no. Sea flycatchers live in the deep canyons of California.
Their second name is “tunicates.” They are predators, and their appearance resembles the carnivorous flycatcher plant.
Preferring depth, they anchor at the bottom, awaiting their victims.
An unsuspecting organism swims next to their glowing mouth, and the tunicate grabs it right away.
As you already understood, in food sea flycatchers not picky – you don’t have to choose.
One more unusual property Tunicates are able to reproduce without mating with other individuals, because the creatures are capable of producing both sperm and eggs.
Speckled stargazer: a fish that attacks from below
The speckled stargazer - Astroscopus guttatus - is a real sea monster. It would seem, why a monster if the fish has such a romantic name. It turns out that not everything is so simple.
Stargazers have a massive lower jaw and huge bulging eyes, for which they received so much unusual name.
Buried in silt or sand, sea creatures they leave only their visual organs to observe their victims.
The huge upward-pointing mouth is also suitable for instant attack.
Speckled stargazers live in Atlantic Ocean: East Coast USA, between 2 states - New York and North Carolina.
Fish that attack from below have one unpleasant feature: they love to shock their victims with an electric discharge.
Special organs located above the eyes emit electrical discharges. But unlike other electrical inhabitants of water bodies, speckled stargazers do not have electroreceptors, that is, they are not able to receive electrical signals from outside world.
To lay eggs, these fish also sink to the bottom, but the eggs themselves later float to the surface. And this will continue until they turn into fry, the length of which is 15 mm. Then, having darkened and grown special organs above the eyes, the stargazers again sink to the bottom to grow further.
A bag-shaped creature from the order of ray-finned fish.
The siltworm has adapted to life at great depths.
The sea monster has a huge mouth, which contrasts with the small body of the silt swallower.
They lack scales, ribs, swim bladder, pyloric appendages, abdominal and caudal fins.
Many skull bones are reduced or disappeared completely.
Thanks to all the modifications, it is difficult to compare the skeleton with other fish, and therefore it is almost impossible to establish kinship.
Frightening and fascinating, are strong and dangerous inhabitants depths
There are several types of moray eels, they differ in size and color. Small ones grow up to 15 cm. Large ones reach a length of 3 m and weigh about 50 kg.
Their skin has no scales - it is completely covered with mucus, which can be poisonous in some species. Thanks to mucus, moray eels are protected from other predators and bacteria. A person who touches this monster will receive severe burns, if he survives at all.
Marine life They have an extremely aggressive and violent disposition. Her sharp teeth pose a danger not only to predators, but also to people. There are many known cases of moray eels attacking humans, several of which were fatal.
Drop Fish
Another deep sea dweller seas - drop fish.
Her unusual appearance is both frightening and pitying at the same time. The fact is that her close-set eyes and huge mouth with downturned corners make her sad and resemble a face sad man.
The drop fish itself is unlikely to be sad about this. The body of the unusual creature has the shape of a gelatinous lump, the density of which is slightly less than the density of water. This allows the “sad” fish to travel long distances, eating everything in its path.
Unfortunately, like most unusual creatures, the blobfish is endangered. It lives off the coast of Australia and Tasmania at depths of up to 1.5 km, but is sometimes caught in fishing nets, after which it is usually sold as a souvenir.
Despite its appearance, the blob is a very caring fish. After laying eggs, she incubates them for a long time and carefully takes care of the fry. Trying to ensure the safety of its offspring, the fish looks for uninhabited and remote places.
Goonfish - freshwater monster
The habitat of the gunch fish is the Kali River, located between Nepal and India. The weight of the river giant reaches 140-150 kg.
It is believed that the gunch is a lover of human meat. It can attack not only in a secluded place, but also when large cluster of people. But why does this fish have such a craving for human flesh?
Legends say that it was the customs of the local residents that turned the gunch into a cannibal. Even in ancient times, the Kali River was used to bury the bodies of the dead. First, a burning ceremony was performed, and then the corpses were thrown into the river.
The custom was preserved, and the gunch fish began to eat what the person himself gives it.
Stone fish, or wart
The most strange and dangerous creature. It is the wart that is one of the most poisonous fish in the world.
Sea monster lives in coral reefs in the shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the waters of the Red Sea, off the coast of Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Samoa and Fiji.
The ability to camouflage itself as a stone allows the fish to remain unnoticed until a person steps on it.
It is possible that this step will be the last.
The stone fish has a powerful poison, and its bite is fatal.
Moreover, death will not occur instantly: the person will suffer, since signs of intoxication persist for a long time.
Rauaga
The mackerel fish is better known as the vampire fish or dogfish.
Ray-finned fish, order Cynodontidae. Inhabits the Paragua, Churun, and other rivers of Venezuela.
Most people think that piranhas are the most bloodthirsty fish, but this is not true.
The body length of this creature is 1 meter, and its weight can exceed 17 kg.
Two pairs of fangs, considered distinctive features fish are located in the lower jaw and can grow up to 15 cm in length.
In the upper jaw of the vampire fish there are two holes that allow the lower fangs not to pierce the upper jaw.
Surprisingly, but rauaga - the only kind, able to cope with a piranha. But, in general, hydrolik feeds on any fish.
Attacking from above, it pierces the victim with its fangs, after which it swallows it whole.
Anglerfish or monkfish
Name " angler"reminds me of some fairy creature. However, this monster really exists.
The anglerfish is one of the rarest deep-sea animals. The first meeting with him took place in 1891.
This fish has no scales at all; its body is covered with growths and bumps. The mouth is disguised by rags of skin that resemble algae. The dark color makes it almost invisible at a depth where there is a minimum of light.
On the anglerfish's head there is a long process ending in a luminous gland. It acts as bait, luring passing fish. The essence of his hunt is to force the prey to swim into his mouth and then swallow it.
The huge appetite of fish makes them hunt even creatures bigger size, which often ends in the death of both.
Huge sea monsters - mesonychoteuthis
Periodically, information reaches us from different parts of the world. What is this: just another fiction or real sea monsters?
You will be surprised, but scientists have officially recognized mesonychoteuthis.
His whole body streamlined shape, helps to develop higher speed.
The eye diameter can reach 60 centimeters with a body size of 4-5 m and a tentacle length of 1.5 meters.
It was first discovered and described in 1925. Fishermen found its tentacles in the stomach of a captured sperm whale.
Also, one of these mollusks washed up on the shores of Japan. Examination of the carcass revealed that it was not an adult.
Experts studying sea giants, including squid, it is believed that the body weight of some squid of this species can reach 200 kilograms.
Isopod
Cephalopods - Bathynomus giganteus - genus Bathynomus. They live in the Atlantic Ocean, preferring a depth of 170-2500 m.
The body length of the isopod is about 1.5 meters, weight is more than 1.5 kg. These sea monsters are an excellent example of deep-sea gigantism.
These crayfish were first described in 1879, initially mistaking them for woodlice.
Zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards fished a young male from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, thereby making a major discovery: ocean depths not lifeless.
Their entire body is covered with movable hard plates for protection.
If they are threatened, they curl up into a ball.
Isopods lead a solitary life.
Almost all their lives they do not move, and their food is passing small fish, carrion or sea cucumbers.
Scientists have found that they can go without food for about 8 weeks. Such inconveniences are determined by the depth chosen for the place of residence: there is not so much food in the pitch darkness.