1. Lanternfish
   Eelpout
2. Viperfish
   Vampire squid

The Vampire squid's scientific name, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, literally translates from Latin to "vampire squid from hell." Although it looks as terrifying as its name sounds, this creature can only grow about six inches long. Most likely, it won't escape from the deep sea to try to suck your blood, but just in case, you can rest easy knowing it's not that big.

1. Vampire Fish
   Ghost Fish
2. Snake Fish
   Viperfish

In 2016, scientists observed this ghostly fish about 2,500 meters deep near the Mariana Trench National Monument, which is just east of the Philippines. It has no scales, colorless eyes and see-through skin.

1. Sea lilies
   Sea urchins
2. Sea stars
   Sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers belong to the same family as sea urchins and starfish, and can often be found slowly crawling across the ocean floor. Although they look relatively harmless, they can combat predators by shooting toxic internal chemicals, known as holothurin, from their anuses. Yikes.

1. Sea robin
   Fangtooth fish
2. Viperfish
   Anglerfish

The fleshy growth that juts from the anglerfish's head helps it to lure prey much like a fishing pole, hence the species' name. Called the esca, this feature is only seen on female anglerfish. Meanwhile, the much smaller males act as parasites, latching onto females and eventually fusing into their skin and bloodstream. They lose their eyes and internal organs in the process. Yes, scary stuff.

1. Yellow tang fish
   Coronate medusa
2. Largehead hairtail
   Common dentex fish

The Atolla wyvillei, also called the Atolla jellyfish or Coronate medusa, live across the world in the deep sea. The bioluminescent creature will flash an electric-blue light when faced with a potential threat, which is why it has also been nicknamed the "alarm jellyfish." The jellyfish's unique flashes inspired marine biologist Edith Widder's invention of E-jelly, which is used to lure mysterious and little-documented deep-sea creatures for filming and analysis.

1. European eel
   Moray eel
2. Conger eel
   Grey Conger eel

There are over 200 species of moray eel, many of which are found in the deep sea. They can usually be found hiding in caves and nooks until a predator or potential prey gets close enough to snap at. Moray eels are often considered apex predators in their ecosystems, since they feed on fish, octopuses and squid of all kinds.

1. Grumpy Cat
   Domo-Kun
2. Flying Spaghetti Monster
   Expanding Brain

When BP workers spotted the Bathyphysa conifer while collecting footage 4,000 feet deep off the coast of Angola, they knew just what to call it. Indeed, the creature closely resembles the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which is a deity from the Pastafarianism movement, as the popular internet legend goes. A member of the coral and jellyfish family, this animal clones itself in order to grow. As it replicates, it can grow to become one of the longest animals in the sea.

1. Columbus crab
   Blue swimmer crab
2. Fiddler crab
   Japanese spider crab

The largest crab in existence, the Macrocheira kaempferi's limbs can grow up to 18 feet long and it can weigh up to 40 pounds. They also have the longest lifespan of any crab, living up to 100 years old. While seemingly too frightening to mess with, apparently fishers still go after it, as it's considered a delicacy in Japan and elsewhere.

1. Columbus crab
   Spiny king crab
2. Fiddler crab
   Halloween crab

The Paralithodes rathbuni is closely related to the California and Alaskan king crab. It grows up to six inches across and prowls the sea floor for prey like small crabs, sea stars and scavenged food. Thanks to its prickly movements, it can tear and feast on prey with ease.

1. Spottail pinfish
   Scup fish
2. Stargazer fish
   Crimson seabream

Although many types of stargazers live in shallow waters, Northern stargazers live in the deep sea of the Atlantic. They burrow in the sand to disguise themselves from potential prey, which they then ambush from below.

1. Bigfin squid
   Colossal squid
2. Humbolt squid
   Big squid

Scientists estimate that the Colossal squid, or Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, can grow up to 45 feet long and weigh up to 1,650 pounds. They also have the largest eyes on record in the animal kingdom: about 16 inches in diameter. Yeah, you definitely wouldn't want to come face-to-face with this creature.

1. Dracula fish
   Saber-toothed viperfish
2. Fangtooth fish
   Largehead hairtail

This fanged fish from the genus Chauliodus can immobilize predators with one quick snap of its mouth. These frightening fish, which can be seen in colors like green, silver and black, may grow up to two feet long and live to age 40.

1. Warty frogfish
   Spotted dogfish
2. Hairy frogfish
   Spotfin fish

Also known as the striated frogfish, the Antennarius striatus is a small deep-sea fish that can change colors. Within a few weeks, a frogfish will shift coloration and pigment pattern to blend in with its surrounding area. It is often yellowish or brownish, but may also be gray, brown, green, white or completely black. It can also morph to have different stripes, blotches and other patterns.

1. Spotted handfish
   Lizard fish
2. Specklefish
   Red porgy

Brachionichthys hirsutus is a rare Australian fish that dwells around 100 feet deep. Its segmented pectoral fins look a lot like short arms with hands, hence its name. With these appendages, it often "walks" across the ocean floor; the species even seems to prefer it to swimming.

1. Bootlace worm
   Giant tube worms
2. Flatworm
   Annelid

The Riftia pachyptila are marine invertebrates that live on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near hydrothermal vents with chimney-like structures called "black smokers." Unlike other marine animals, the giant tube worms can tolerate extremely high hydrogen sulfide levels. As their name suggests, they are indeed giant, reaching lengths of up to eight feet.

1. Pelican eel
   Conger eel
2. European eel
   Moray eel

Humans have caught sight of the jet black Eurypharynx pelecanoides, mostly because it mistakenly gets caught in fishing nets. Also called a gulper eel or umbrella-mouth gulper, the fish has velvety skin and a pocket-like mouth that can envelop creatures much larger than its size. Its tail has several tentacles that glow pink and, occasionally, red.

1. Sea cucumber
   Sea slug
2. Sea lily
   Sea star

Deep-sea sea slugs range from cherry red to a neon blue illuminated by bioluminescence. These carnivorous creatures possess teeth that they use to scrape at prey. Most sea slugs are just inches long, but others may grow longer than a foot.

1. Goblin shark
   Unicorn shark
2. Wobbegong shark
   Ground shark

The Mitsukurina owstoni has sharp, needly teeth, semi-translucent skin through which you can see its inner organs, and highly extendable jaws. The jaws can open extremely wide, snapping up prey in one bite. It is thought to be the oldest living species of shark on Earth.

1. Pacific hagfish
   Fangtooth fish
2. Dracula fish
   Razor fish

Relative to its body size, the fangtooth fish has some of the largest teeth in the ocean. Although these fish may look scary, though, they only grow as long as about six inches and aren't known to be very aggressive.

1. Glass squid
   Cock-Eyed squid
2. Humboldt squid
   Whiplash squid

Also called the jumbo squid, jumbo flying squid and diablo rojo ("red devil" in English), the Dosidicus gigas are fierce hunters. When they run out of food, they are known to eat one another. Unfortunately, they have a reputation for being aggressive toward humans, so stay far away (you know, when you just happen to be roaming the deep sea).

1. Blackspot seabream
   Tigerfish
2. Atlantic wolffish
   Vampire fish

The Anarhichas lupus has about four to six teeth on its jaws, three more rows of teeth behind that, and a throat full of serrated teeth. The Atlantic wolffish's long, snakelike body can reach lengths up to five feet.

1. Spotfin frogfish
   Black swallower
2. Pancake batfish
   Redeye gaper

As you might imagine, the black swallower, or Chiasmodon niger, got its name for a reason. Although quite slender in appearance, its stomach can easily engulf prey twice its size and more than 10 times its mass.

1. Goblin shark
   Frilled shark
2. Catshark
   Mackerel shark

The frilled shark, or Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is often called a "living fossil" due to its many primitive features. Its mouth contains about 300 pointed teeth in total. To capture prey, it contorts its body and then lunges at it like a snake, at which point it can swallow the creature whole. Yikes.

1. Frogfish
   Red-lipped batfish
2. Oarfish
   Monkfish

Also called sea-devils, frog-fish or fishing-frogs, monkfish or Lophius, these creatures can be found across the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Their large, flat mouths and huge stomachs allows them to easily swallow prey as big as their bodies.

1. Stareater
   Sheepshead
2. Red porgy
   Triggerfish

Stareaters, or Astronesthes, attract prey with the hook-like, bioluminescent appendage that extend from their chin. They tend to feed on krill, crustaceans and lanternfish. Fittingly, they are also sometimes called "snaggletooth."

1. Pacific hagfish
   Sea robin
2. Crimson seabream
   Bluespotted seabream

Also known as Triglidae or gurnard, these fish get their name from their expansive pectoral fins, which seem to flap like a bird's wings as they swim. They typically dwell in waters 660 feet deep, but sometimes use their fins to glide across the ocean's surface for short distances, similar to a flying fish. Birds aren't the only land mammal they emulate: When frightened, they make a croaking noise similar to that of a frog.

1. Shortnose batfish
   Barreleye
2. Sargassum fish
   Pink frogmouth

Also called "spook fish" or Opisthoproctidae, the barreleye are named for their tubular, telescoping eyes that generally turn upward to discern the shape of potential prey. The eyes sit inside a translucent, sloped area of soft tissue. Occasionally, they might direct their eyes forward.

1. Botan shrimp
   Cherry shrimp
2. Whiteleg shrimp
   Emperor shrimp

These vibrant orange and purple shrimp are parasitic creatures and can often be found living off sea cucumbers. They might also latch onto other hosts like sea slugs. Emperor shrimp are considered commensal organisms, which means they benefit from the parasitic relationship while the other species remains unaffected.

1. Goblin shark
   Bluntnose sixgill shark
2. Greenland shark
   Cookiecutter shark

Also sometimes called a cow shark, the Hexanchus griseus can survive for at least a year without eating. Since it generally sticks to very deep water, its choice of predators can be few and far between. Often, it will feed on a decaying whale carcass that sinks to the sea floor, which it can then live on for another several months.

1. Lion's mane jellyfish
   Skeletal jellyfish
2. Crystal jelly
   Box jellyfish

The crystal jelly, or Aequorea victoria, can be found deep in the waters off the west coast of North America. Bioluminescence illuminates the jellyfish, which is almost completely transparent. The jellyfish's tentacles may range anywhere from less than an inch long to up to 120 feet.

1. Giant isopod
   Sea cucumber
2. Caridean shrimp
   Water flea

Giant isopods can grow to reach more than 16 inches long and look a lot like pill bugs for a reason: they're cousins. Like the pillbug, they can also curl up into a ball to defend themselves from predators. These isopods are considered the largest in the world.

1. Wobbegong shark
   Goblin shark
2. Ghost sharks
   Catshark

Chimaeras, also known as rat fish, spookfish, rabbit fish and ghost sharks, are not actually a member of the shark family. However, sharks are their closest living relative, even if they haven't shared an ancestor in 400 million years. The stitch-like markings on the fish serve to detect vibration and movement.

1. Ostracod
   Giant crustacean
2. Copepod
   Caridean shrimp

These leggy crustaceans are about 20 times larger than the crustaceans found much higher up in the sea. The supergiant amphipods were found off the northeast coast of New Zealand about four miles deep in one of the deepest trenches on earth.

1. Goblin shark
   Megamouth shark
2. Greenland shark
   Bluntnose Sixgill shark

The megamouth shark, or Megachasma pelagios, is a very rare species of deepwater shark. It swims with its mouth agape, scarfing down tons of fish and krill as it swims—hence its name. Inside the megamouth's mouth, you will find 50 rows of tiny, pointed teeth. Yikes.

1. Pumpkin fish
   Gourdfish
2. Coffinfish
   Sargo fish

The coffinfish, or Chaunax endeavour, is a type of sea toad that dwells as deep as 8,000 feet. It often dwells on the ocean floor, using its tiny leg-like fins to "sit." This sea toad is actually a member of the anglerfish family.

1. Goblin shark
   Dwarf shark
2. Cat shark
   Lantern shark

Various types of lantern shark, which is a type of dogfish shark, are found across the deep sea and include the smallest sharks recorded. One little-known variety, the dwarf lantern shark, reaches a maximum length of just eight inches long. The lantern shark gets its name from its bioluminescent belly.

1. Dracula fish
   Black dragonfish
2. Viperfish
   Fangtooth fish

The black dragonfish, or diacanthus atlanticus, has a belly lined with light-producing organs that it uses to trick predators. As the lights change, the fish appears to shape-shift. They also have lights that jut from each eye that are used to hunt for prey or entice prospective mates.