The Scariest Monsters of the Deep Sea
We took the spook-tacular celebration to the depths of the ocean, where some of the craziest—and scariest—looking creatures lurk in the dark
![frilled shark](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/0X3t632n_Zh9uJssGjChjMCU9K0=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/c8/45/c845e0b4-24e6-4eec-9b5a-e28ddb11dc46/scariest-deep-sea-monsters.jpg)
Red Octopus (Stauroteuthis syrtensis)
![Red Octopus](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/qGE7h_tgqdvKI1fsTN7QJ9AizGE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Red-Octopus-631.jpg)
Deep sea blob sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus)
![Deep-sea blob sculpin](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/dgui_Nx5VLYKEy322-o6CxvG1X8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Blob-631.jpg)
Remember the horror movie, The Blob? This sculpin bears some resemblance to the invading alien. These fish are usually found at depths of up to 2,800 meters along the U.S. West coast and can get caught in nets that indiscriminately trawl the seafloor for commercially important species like crabs.
Sea Pigs (genus Scotoplanes)
![None](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/2NkVCl7QmyccaUa5l0wxo2RVbag=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Sea-Pig-631.jpg)
The Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni)
![Goblin Shark](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/Ha8vv6wf9GWW4m7E96p8GYlgRXU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Goblin-Shark-631.jpg)
The Proboscis Worm (Parborlasia corrugatus)
![Proboscis worm](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/-jW2XdBOYABbQR6-LKg6YJ8D2dw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Proboscis-Worm-631.jpg)
Zombie Worms (Osedax roseus)
![Zombie worms](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/rAao6lkGtAChv69Q7_C7WkmRdOI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Zombie-Worms-631.jpg)
Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa)
![Stonefish](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/29yKucSB4-MCgmVY_nUH_lkHStA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Stonefish-631.jpg)
The Sloane’s viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)
![Sloane's Viperfish](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/oAXbIHZV442pma206mZSx7r_bAQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Viperfish-631.jpg)
Giant isopods (Bathynomus giganteus)
![Giant Isopod](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/3nLqug1AZq4RgK4ICYBk0g0-fa4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Giant-Isopod-631.jpg)
Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)
![Frilled Shark](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/lmtAeQnzRLxyNjF-FjdWkioLDiE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/Scariest-Sea-Monsters-Frilled-Shark-631.jpg)
Related Books
![Creatures of the Deep: In Search of the Sea's Monsters and the World They Live In Preview thumbnail for video 'Creatures of the Deep: In Search of the Sea's Monsters and the World They Live In](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/SNcs9TV_6UJU01V97FmAiqIrNZQ=/fit-in/300x0/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/embedly/embedly_image_e148ac896da669d226485c1f5c1d63230d40d5b8.jpg)
Creatures of the Deep: In Search of the Sea's Monsters and the World They Live In