When I think of the biggest, scariest fish to ever exist, I don’t frequently picture modern day dolphins, whales, or even sharks. Instead, my mind errs on the side of prehistoric giants, such as the plesiosaurus and dunkleosteus. While both species are large and can be threatening hunters, they pale in comparison to the ultimate aquatic apex predator: the Megalodon.… Read more Megalodon – The Big Tooth
When I was a little kid, those three mysterious holes found on power sockets always seemed to call my name. I knew they were dangerous, not to be touched, and yet I couldn’t resist. In my defense, no one explained why I couldn’t stick anything in one, they just told me I shouldn’t. So, as you may have… Read more Electric Eels – A Shocking Discovery
When you look at the ling, spiny legs of a daddy long leg spider, does it send chills down your spine? Maybe it’s the beady eyes, the sinewy body type, of just the concept of a spider in general. Thankfully, daddy long leg spiders are relatively small, especially in comparison to a human. Now, picture if a… Read more Japanese Spider Crab – The Gentle Giant
When you think of the term “vampire”, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? Do you think of Dracula and other horror stories of blood-sucking fiends? On the Animal Kingdom spectrum, you probably think of vampire bats and in the worst-case scenario, leeches. However, one even more frightening fish exists: The Vampire Squid. The Vampyroteuthis infernalis, or “vampire squid of hell” is named for its blue eyes,… Read more Vampire Squids – The Fish from Hell
Have you ever looked at the bright feathers and intricate designs on a peacock up close before? You may or may not know that the more brightly color plumage belongs to male birds, while females typically boast much more subdued pattern. Similarly, the male Peacock Mantis Shrimp adorns a brilliant green and blue that exoskeleton, while the brightly colored females are almost… Read more Peacock Mantis Shrimp – The Knockout Punch
When you think of the largest animals known to man, what do you picture? Do you visualize a hippopotamus, a moose, an even elephant? Maybe, you think about the ocean, and the large deep-sea creatures that lurk below. In fact, the largest animal on the planet is the Blue Whale. Weighing in as heavy as 200 tons (which would equal 33 elephants),… Read more Blue Whale – The Largest on Earth
Take a moment and think about the types of teeth that animals typically possess. Much like land-living herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, the teeth of fish also vary in accordance to their diets. So, having the largest tooth to body ratio known to an aquatic species, what diet does a Fangtooth fish dine on? Unlike you may expect, fangtooth subsist mainly… Read more Fangtooth Fish – The Aquatic Saber
Please, take a moment and picture the squishiest, ugliest fish imaginable. That’s right, I said “ugliest”, and in this case, I am not exaggerating. The blubbery and formless fish below gained widespread fame in 2018, after winning the title “Mother Nature’s endangered but [most] “aesthetically challenged child,” and official ranks the ugliest creature on Earth. Beyond ecological fame, you may have encountered its beady eyes and blubbery build online in highly… Read more Blobfish – The World’s Ugliest Creature
Have you ever heard the word thalassophobia before? Odds are you had no idea this word existed, although you’re probably familiar with its meaning. But thanks to the internet and way too much caffeine, I can now assuage your newfound curiosity. Thalassophobia, besides just sounding super cool, has an equally interesting meaning! Do you remember on vacation, when you looked over the edge of a boat into the depths of the ocean below,… Read more Frilled Sharks – The Living Fossil