In the western Pacific Ocean, 124 miles near the Mariana Islands, is the deepest oceanic trench on the planet, the Mariana Trench. The deepest end of the trench, Challenger Deep, is at the southern end of a small valley. The point is so deep that Mount Everest could fit with room to spare. The pressure and depth make it challenging to explore the area and nobody is quite sure what Mariana Trench creatures live down there. That hasn’t stopped a few brave souls from investigating the trench.
In 1875, the Challenger expedition was the first to explore the area and attempted to measure the deepest point. It also takes a brave sea creature to live in or around the area, as the Oceanic Trench is full of horrifying sharks that hide deep in the sea. Then there are unique fish that lure in their prey by creating an illuminating light. There are many creatures that enjoy living on the seafloor at the deepest point in the world. The strange animals thrive and survive in the hauntingly beautiful Mariana Oceanic Trench, as you will discover below.
1. Mariana Snailfish
The Mariana snailfish is the strangest creature to call the Mariana Trench home. The Challenger expedition in 1876 discovered the snailfish’s habitat in Challenger Deep. The Mariana Trench is the ideal home for such a creature that has a reputation for going as far down as 20,000 to 26,000 feet. It has unique physical traits, including a tadpole-like body and pale skin.
It’s one of the most dominant predators in the Mariana Trench since the more giant creatures can’t withstand the pressure of the deep sea. Hence, the Mariana snailfish has all the small crustaceans to itself. It’s safe to assume the Mariana snailfish is one of the most famous creatures found in the iconic Oceanic Trench.
2. Dumbo Octopus
The Oceanic Trench is ideal for sea creatures that enjoy living deep in the ocean. The Dumbo octopus has a reputation for residing deep in the sea. In most cases, they spend much of their time on the seafloor. It’s one of the main reasons the dumbo octopus is attracted to the Oceanic Trench.
Also known as Grimpoteuthis, the name Dumbo octopus is due to its resemblance to the main character in the 1941 classic Disney movie Dumbo. Each Dumbo octopus has an ear-like fin over its eye and their unique bodies allow them to withstand intense ocean pressure. These reasons combined make the Dumbo octopus the trench’s most famous tentacled creature.
3. Barreleye Fish
Deep in the Oceanic Trench live a wide range of strange and unique creatures. It takes a tough and crafty animal to survive the challenging trench. The barreleye is one such creature that is also one of the ocean’s most extraordinary fish. The barreleye fish enjoys living in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans and have a particular skill set that gives them an advantage in the Mariana Oceanic Trench.
The barreleye is easily recognizable with its large telescoping eyes and translucent skull. Their barrel-like eyes make it possible to see prey above them or in front. The combination of unique appearance and survival skills is why the barreleye fish is another of the Oceanic Trench’s strangest creatures.
4. Deep Sea Dragonfish
Don’t let the small size of the deep sea dragonfish fool you. It’s a dangerous sea creature capable of outsmarting and devouring prey twice its size. This is why it’s considered up there with the strangest yet deadliest animals in the Oceanic Trench. Also known as stomiidae, the deep-sea dragonfish can create its own light using bioluminescence. With its unique organ, the photophore, the dragonfish can easily lure its prey.
Without adrenaline, it can produce a blue-green light for 30 minutes. However, with an adrenaline rush, a dragonfish can make the light for several hours. They’re also known for having sharp nail-like teeth. Furthermore, it can unhinge its jaw, allowing it to move 100 degrees and consume giant prey. It’s one of the creepiest creatures in the Oceanic Trench.
5. Goblin Shark
The goblin shark is a rare species that is unlike any other shark in history. Goblin sharks are best known for their long flat snout, protruding jaw, and razor-sharp teeth. However, humans rarely get a glimpse of the elusive goblin shark. The main reason being due to goblin sharks enjoy living deep in the ocean.
It’s uncommon to see them close to the surface. As they live in the deepest part of the ocean, they can hide from the rest of the world. They often hunt for their prey close to the sea floor.
[see_more_about title=”13 Immortal Animals That Can’t Be Killed” link=”https://nl.jahaweb.com/interesting/immortal-animals/”]
6. Anglerfish
It takes a unique fish to survive in the deep Mariana Oceanic Trench. Some of the sea’s most dangerous and deadly animals live in the trench. Unlike other sea creatures, anglerfish don’t have to worry about being hunted since they’re the ones doing the hunting. Some anglerfish prefer living close to the surface while others enjoy the deep ocean and sea floor, making their home in the Oceanic Trench.
Anglerfish are best known for their bony body and fin rays. A notorious ambush predator, anglerfish lure in their prey with their trusty fin ray. The luminous light it produces usually comes from the surrounding seawater. The massive jaw and fang-like teeth allow the anglerfish to consume a creature twice its size.
7. The Black Seadevil
The black seadevil is a member of the larger anglerfish family. With a name like the black seadevil, it’s no surprise it calls the Mariana Oceanic Trench home. In many ways, the black seadevil are genuine monsters of the trench. It’s easily recognizable with its big head and horrifying giant sharp teeth.
They have the unique skill of producing an illuminating light to lure in prey. Symbiotic bacteria create bioluminescence, allowing them to trap their prey. Evidence suggests the bacteria comes from the surrounding saltwater. With its sinister appearance and luring light, the black seadevil is the monster that causes other sea creatures to have nightmares.
8. Frilled Shark
The Oceanic Trench attracts some of the sea’s most terrifying creatures, with the deep ocean floor ideal for the frilled shark. It’s often called a living fossil due to its unique brown color and physical traits. Frilled sharks usually live near the sea floor. They feel most comfortable hunting for food and their prey deep in the sea. Frilled sharks tend to live in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. The ones in the Pacific Ocean migrate towards the Mariana Ocean Trench and Challenger Deep.
Frilled sharks hunt for prey on the surface at night, known as diel vertical migration. With their large size, frilled sharks move like eels allowing them to get the better of their prey. They also have roughly 300 recurved spike-like teeth and a flexible jaw. The deepest points in the Oceanic Trench allow the frilled shark to thrive.
9. Devil Fish
The Oceanic Trench has a way of attracting the scariest creatures. The devil fish is at the very top of that list. It might even be the most dangerous creature in the sea. Devil fish mostly live in the Mediterranean sea, but many are known to reside in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The endangered species prefer to live close to the seafloor, making the Mariana Oceanic Trench the perfect location for it to dwell.
At times, the devil fish likes to be alone deep in the sea, while it also enjoys large groups. A relative of the stingray, the devil fish is known for its unique appearance, making it a fascinating creature living in the Mariana Trench.
10. Zombie Worm
Nothing in the Oceanic Trench or the seafloor is as creepy as a zombie worm. The oddest creatures in the sea all gravitate to the Mariana Oceanic Trench for a reason. The zombie worm thrives in the trench despite lacking a face and stomach. Also known as bone-eating worms and bone worms, they burrow their way into the bones of whale carcasses.
Many zombie worms can live in one whalebone. They also create holes in the bones to protect against predators. It makes perfect sense for the zombie worm to live in the deep and dark Mariana Oceanic Trench where it can hide out in whale carcasses for months.
11. Sea Cucumber
The sea floor is full of strange and odd creatures deep in the ocean. Many sea creatures avoid monstrous predators by staying close to the bottom of the ocean. For instance, the long and leathery sea cucumber calls the sea floor its home. For the most part, they live around the globe in the deepest parts of the ocean.
A large portion of sea cucumbers lives in the Asia-Pacific region. This makes the deepest point in the ocean, Challenger Deep, ideal for a creature like a sea cucumber. The ocean floor is full of sea cucumbers who often stay in large groups. They tend to gravitate to the Oceanic Trench since they can go as deep as they want. The sea cucumber is easily the oddest creature living in the dark Oceanic Trench.