**Mariana Trench**, one of the deepest places in the world, holds countless mysteries that humans have yet to fully explore. Due to its terrible depth, this place has revealed many of the strangest and scariest sea creatures on the planet. In this video, we will learn about 20 terrifying things discovered in **Mariana Trench**.
**Number 20: USS Johnston**
This is the deepest sunken shipwreck in the world. USS Johnston, a destroyer of the United States Navy, participated in the great naval battle in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Sea, in October 1944. This fierce battle involved 300 American warships, 70 Japanese ships, and 1,500 aircraft. During the battle, many Japanese ships were sunk, including the largest battleship in the world at that time, Yamato.
The USS Johnston fought valiantly but was eventually sunk, taking 186 of its 327 crew with it. After 75 years, the wreck was discovered at a depth of 3.7 miles (about 6 km), with its forepart still intact and its ship number clearly visible.
**Focus: Strange creature appears in Mariana Trench**
A shocking image taken by a crew member near the Mariana Trench shows a strange creature poking its head out of the water. It is unprecedented for a creature from deep water to confidently surface like that. This raises the question: will human intrusion into their habitat cause them to venture back into our world?
**Number 19: Ping-pong Sponge Plant**
The seabed is home to not only strange creatures but also terrifying “plants”. The ping-pong sponge, which at first glance resembles a tree covered in ping-pong balls, is actually a carnivorous sponge. It has small, hook-like spines on its “balls,” which trap and slowly digest its prey.
**Number 18: Fin Whale Carcass**
The fin whale carcass becomes a huge “feast” for thousands of sea creatures when it dies. This whale has a unique hunting technique, using its mouth to scoop up water and food, then expelling the water, trapping the prey inside.
**Number 17: Dumbo Octopus**
Living at depths of 13,100 feet (4,000 meters), the Dumbo Octopus has developed unique adaptations. It has the ability to store sperm from multiple matings to increase its chances of reproducing in harsh conditions.
**Number 16: Hatchetfish**
The hatchetfish has an axe-like shape and glows bioluminescently, which helps it camouflage itself from predators. This is one of the strangest fish in the deep.
**Number 15: Comb jellies**
This brainless creature has a unique nervous system, helping scientists study neuroevolution. Notably, climate change seems to be helping them thrive instead of being threatened like many other species.
**Number 14: Black Sea Devil**
This fish stands out with its soft body, sharp fangs, and glowing “lanterns” on its head to attract prey.
**Number 13: Barreleye**
With a transparent head filled with green liquid, the barreleye has special tubular eyes, helping them see prey even in the dark.
**Number 12: Snailfish**
Known as the “impossible fish”, the snailfish lives at a record depth of 8,336 metres, far exceeding the limits of what humans once thought fish could survive.
**Number 11: Cusk eel**
This ancient fish was found at a record depth of 8,370 metres, surpassing the snailfish.
**Number 10: Giant Amphipod Shrimp**
Giant shrimp, 20 times larger than their relatives, have left scientists amazed when they discovered them in deep water.
**Number 9: Goblin shark**
With their bizarre appearance and ability to attack by pushing their jaws outward, the goblin shark is one of the most feared species in the ocean.
**Number 8: Mysterious Metallic Sound**
In 2016, scientists detected a strange metallic sound from the Mariana Trench, later identifying it as a communication call from fin whales. However, the sound remains a reminder of the unsolved mysteries of the deep ocean.
The mysterious sound known as “The Bloop” was once thought to have originated from a creature the size of an island—an idea both thrilling and alarming. However, this fascinating theory was later replaced by a more mundane explanation: the sound was the result of glacial movements or a massive iceberg crashing in a remote location. But what do you think caused this mysterious sound? Do you have any wild theories to add to the mix? Share them in the comments below!
**Number 7: Gigantic Amoebas**
In 2011, scientists made an eerie discovery in the depths of the Mariana Trench. During a research expedition in the Pacific Ocean, they used advanced technology to explore previously uncharted areas of the deep sea and found enormous single-celled organisms known as xenophyophores—or, simply, gigantic amoebas. These creatures are unlike typical amoebas due to their extraordinary size, with some specimens measuring over 4 inches in diameter.
Living at depths of up to 6.6 miles (within the Sirena Deep of the Mariana Trench), these amoebas hold the title of the largest individual cells known to science. Previously, similar organisms had only been found at depths of 4.7 miles. The trench remains a mysterious frontier, leaving us to wonder—what other secrets might it conceal?
**Number 6: Zombie Worms**
Zombie worms, aptly named for their gruesome feeding habits, are deep-sea creatures that feast on bones. Found at depths of nearly 9,500 feet, these worms often inhabit the carcasses of dead whales, boring into the bones to extract lipids and collagen. Using their specialized physiology, they create holes throughout the skeletal structure, which serve as both feeding channels and hiding spots from predators. These bone-loving creatures are a haunting reminder of nature’s ingenuity in the ocean’s depths.
**Number 5: Vampire Squid**
Despite its sinister name, the vampire squid is neither a true squid nor a bloodsucking vampire. This unique cephalopod lives at depths of 2,000 to 3,000 feet in tropical and temperate waters, thriving in frigid temperatures of 35–37°F.
The vampire squid gets its name from its dark coloration—ranging from red to black—and its eerie, cape-like webbing. Its large, glowing red eyes add to its spooky appearance. Unlike most squids, it doesn’t release ink when threatened. Instead, it ejects a glowing, sticky mucus to confuse predators. Thankfully, it doesn’t drink blood or possess any supernatural qualities—just a mysterious name and a fascinating defense mechanism.
**Number 4: Frilled Shark**
Often called a “living fossil,” the frilled shark is a rare, ancient species that dates back at least 80 million years. With its terrifying appearance and eel-like body, this shark looks straight out of a prehistoric nightmare. It gets its name from its six pairs of frilly gills, resembling Elizabethan ruffs but far more sinister.
Sightings of the frilled shark are incredibly rare. One notable encounter occurred off the coast of Victoria, Australia, when startled fishermen captured a live specimen. The discovery made headlines and reminded us that some ancient creatures still lurk in the oceans’ depths, virtually unchanged for millions of years.
**Number 3: Dragonfish**
Although small—about 6 inches in length—the dragonfish is a fearsome predator of the deep sea. Its fanged jaws, which are nearly transparent, allow it to sneak up on prey and consume creatures nearly half its size. Adding to its eerie reputation, the dragonfish emits a bioluminescent glow that further enhances its nightmarish allure. For tiny creatures in its path, this predator is a true terror of the deep.
**Number 2: Telescope Octopus**
The telescope octopus, found at depths between 500 and 6,500 feet in the Indo-Pacific, is a transparent, ghostly creature. Growing up to 8 inches long, its gelatinous body renders it nearly invisible to predators. The only visible parts of its body are its digestive gland and its unusual eyes, which are perched on stalks that give the creature a peculiar “telescope” effect.
This adaptation allows the octopus to observe its surroundings while remaining almost entirely undetectable. It’s a master of invisibility, blending seamlessly into the shadows of the deep ocean.
**Number 1: Stalked Crinoids**
Stalked crinoids, or “sea lilies,” are ancient marine creatures that have existed for over 480 million years. These fascinating organisms attach themselves to the seafloor using stalks or stems. Their feeding arms, which are lined with grooves, capture suspended food particles and direct them toward the mouth.
Most modern crinoids are free-floating feather stars that lose their stalks upon reaching adulthood. However, stalked crinoids remain anchored, sometimes using their flexible stems to climb to elevated areas or drift to new feeding locations. Fossil evidence even suggests that some ancient crinoids attached themselves to driftwood in colonies. Today, these strange, plant-like creatures live in the gentle ocean currents, a living testament to the resilience of life in the depths.
