15 Amazing Sea Creatures You Can Hardly Believe Are Real

There are lots of weird-looking animals in the world, but it's sea creatures who always get the top spots. Either evolution has made everything prettier (marine creatures are the least changed inhabitants of the Earth). Or, water as a living medium sets life free of vanity. Either way, marine life has easily the ugliest examples of an organism there is. And here is what exactly do we mean.

1. Deep Sea Jellyfish Periphylla

This jellyfish is actually hurt by the light. It dwells between one to seven kilometres deep under the water surface and can be found in every ocean but the Arctic. It only goes into shallow waters when it's night, to prevent damage from the natural sun light. Like a lot other deep sea creatures it uses bioluminescence - a chemical reaction which results in light burst from it's body. In short - it glows like a rave ball. This ability acts as a defence against other creatures.

2. Sea Lamprey

The Sea Lamprey is a shallow water creature, inhabiting the Atlantic water at a depth of 90 centimetres. It's a parasite creature. The way it feeds is literally biting the victim and attaching itself like a suction cup. Afterwards, it uses it's sharp teeth and tongue to basically scratch away at the target until blood reaches the Sea Lamprey. Then, if feeds on it for as much as it can before the host dies from excessive blood loss. The secretion in it's mouth prevents coagulation of the blood and allows it to feed for a longer time. After a year of such feeding, it returns to it's origin to lay eggs.

3. Sea Cucumber

A floor inhabitant of the sea. Interesting about the Sea Cucumber is it's form of communication - it releases hormones in the waters as a way to relay messages to others of it's kind. Their defense mechanism is also pretty strange. When startled, the Sea Cucumber can shoot out an extension of their respiratory system out their cloaca towards the enemy. Consider spitting your lungs at the next person who wants to steal your phone.

4. Sea Pig

It's a variety of the Sea Cucumber. It occupies the ocean floor and much like a normal Earth snail feed on the muddy bottom and the organic materials in it's constitution. It has tube-like C-shaped legs, which it uses as transportation, by sucking onto the bottom with them one at a time.

5. Mata Mata

This is clearly the weirdest-looking turtle in existence. It reminds more of a pokemon than a real life creature. It's feeding mechanism involves suction feeding. The Mata Mata camouflages itself in the water and remain motionless until the pray comes close enough. When that happens, rather than biting away at the enemy, the turtle opens it's mouth fast enough to form vacuum and suck the fish in, while swallowing it whole.

6. Yeti Crab

Kiwa Hisura - the official name of the creature was only discovered in 2005. It's most prominent feature are fur-resembling bristles, which encompass it's legs and claws. The function behind them is they provide home for a very handy bacteria. It purifies the waters around the crab from toxic waste dumped in it's habitat.

7. Japanese Spider Crab

The only extraordinary trait in the Japanese Spider Crab is it's appearance. It has the largest leg span of up to 3.8 metres in the whole crab family. And, because it's body only grows up to 40 centimetres, the ratio between it and the legs makes the creature look murderous and vicious. Scientists, however, state the animal is found to be "gentle", despite it's looks.

8. Flamingo Tongue Snail

Dresses like it's ready to party, the Flamingo Tongue Snail is a rather common inhabitant of the water. The unusual about it is the orange-y colour and black markings. Make, me included make the mistake to think the shell is coloured this way. However, what we sea is actually are a layer of live tissue, which covers the shell. When attacked, the snail retracts it inside and exposes the shell.

9. Deep Sea Hatchetfish

Now this is what I call an alien. This fish inhabits the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans at a few hundred metres deep. We know evolution goes weirdly in there, but this one takes all the prizes. It's called a Hatchetfish because it's profile reminds of one. What appear to be teeth embedded throughout the entire length of it's body are actually scales, and what looks to be a rave lamp is it's bioluminescence ability. It's function is to mimic the penetrating sunlight, cloaking the animal and protecting it from predators.

10. Christmas Tree Worm

A common site for divers, this worm impresses most with it's appearance. It has no movement apparatus, so it attaches itself to the corals and remains as a stationary inhabitant. The spiral formation resembling the Christmas Tree shape are it's respiratory system.

11. Chinese Giant Salamander

It's...just...huge. The Giant salamander can reach up to 180 centimetres of length taking the number one stop in size of all amphibians. An ordinary salamander is measured between 10 and 20 centimetres. You do the math.

12. Blobfish

This fish is quite extraordinary. Because it inhabits deep waters - 600 to 1200 metres below surface, it uses a special trait to help it get by. It's flesh is made of gelatinuous mass which has a lower than water density. This helps the blobfish move about without expending energy resources. When taken out of the water the flesh drops down and easily takes the Oscar for most ugliest living thing on the planet.

13. Bioluminescent octopus

Rarely do octopi exhibit bioluminescence, however, when they do, we witness the most spectacular of sights. Deep underwater the creature is so whimsical, it's hard to believe it's actually real.

14. Axolotl

Also known as the Mexican Salamander or Mexican Walking Fish, this creature is like a missing link of the evolution. It's larvae fails to go trough metamorphosis and the axolotl remains a water inhabitant. However, it's closely related to the Tiger Salamander.

15. Goblin Shark

An extremely rare species (and good too based on it's looks), the Goblin Shark reminds of a strange and vile genetic experiment between a shark, a crocodile and surf-board. It inhabits the waters below 100 metres, usually continental slopes and submarine canyons. Despite the vicious look of it's jaw, scientists define it as a rather sluggish species. Don't judge the book by it's cover, they say, but some cover it is.