In the marine ecosystem there are many species with strange appearance that few know

The surface of the planet Earth is composed of water in approximately 71%, so in the aquatic ecosystems there is an enormous number of unknown animal species that have very peculiar physical characteristics. Among the rarest marine animals in the world are:

• Sea dragons: The foliaceous sea dragon gets its name because its fins are very similar to the leaves of a tree, which allows it to hide from its predators. It is native to the south and west coasts of Australia, where they are recognized as symbols of good luck. For festivals in this country, humans usually hunt them, so they are in danger of extinction. Its length is between 6 and 8 inches approximately.

• Yeti Crab: It was discovered in 2005, it is a crustacean decapod (belonging to the family of crabs) whose scientific name is “Kiwa hirsuta” in honor of the goddess Kiwa of Polynesian mythology. Its size is superior to that of common crabs, with an approximate length of 15 centimeters; its color is yellowish-white and it is believed that it is totally blind due to its characteristics and the depth in which it lives. The yeti crab has abundant silks that are covered in colonies of bacteria that are still being studied to clarify their functionality.

• Hairy Toadfish: It is one of the strangest and most peculiar creatures of the marine world; its habitat is between corals and sponges because its appearance allows it to blend in with the landscape. The semicircular shape of its body, its large and thick mouth, its position when jumping, and attacking its prey are some of the characteristics that make it very similar to toads, it has ramifications that resemble hairs and its size varies depending on the age. It is considered a potentially dangerous animal, since it possesses poison to defend itself from its predators.

• Dumbo Octopus: It is a mollusc that is called “Dumbo” because its fins are similar to the flying ears of Walt Disney’s elephant. This octopus has a gelatinous body that allows it to withstand the high pressures of the depths and its white color is due to the fact that the sun does not reach its habitat. One of the most important characteristics of this octopus is that it swallows its entire prey.

• Marine pig: It is an echinoderm animal that is called “pig” because its head and mouth are similar to those of these terrestrial animals. The creature lives at the bottom of the ocean and feeds on organic particles from the decomposition of plant and animal remains that have fallen from surface waters.

• Mixinos or Mixines: They are a kind of agnate fish (they do not have jaw) also known as witch fish. Their circular body has bare skin and provided with a large number of mucous glands that secrete enormous quantities of mucus and perfectly coiled protein threads that they straighten in contact with seawater to trap the slimy mucus near their body in order to deter predators or escape from them.

• Drop fish: A species of fish that lives in the deep waters of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, its gelatinous flesh has a lower density than water, which allows it to float above the seabed without spending energy. The drop fish feeds on sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans. In 2013, it was chosen as “the ugliest animal in the world”.

• Viper fish: It is a species of fish found in the warm and temperate waters of all oceans, including the western Mediterranean. This species is recognized by its large mouth and sharp teeth like fangs that curve very close to its eyes. It can reach sizes between 30 and 60 cm in length and is known to be one of the fiercest predators of the deep.

• Vampire squid: It is a species of mollusc that is called “vampire” due to physical appearance, it has a thin and elastic skin that connects its eight arms, which are equipped with fleshy spines known as cirrus. It has a maximum length of 30 centimeters. Its consistency is soft, wet and slippery, similar to that of jellyfish and has large eyes and very powerful jaws.

Latin American Post | Andrea del Pilar Rojas Riaño
Translated from “Conozca los animales marinos más raros”