Bizarre and Unique Marine Animals

There are thousands of different species of aquatic creatures found on the different oceans

of the world. Many of these are amazing, some are unusual and some are simply unique and

bizarre.  Here's a list of bizarre and unique marine animals.

Banjo Shark

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Banjo Shark or Eastern Fiddler Ray (Trygonorrhina sp.) is a unique species of guitarfish with pattern of pale lilac bands

edged with dark brown and distinctive triangular pattern behind its eyes found in southern and eastern coasts of Australia.

It grows to a length of 92 to 120 cm. The eastern fiddler is found to a depth of 120 meters and the southern fiddler to a

depth of 180 meters.

Crocodilefish

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This not a crocodile! Crocodilefish, also commonly known as Tentacled Flathead (Papilloculiceps longiceps), is a bizarre

species of predatory bottom-dwelling fish found in the Western Indian Ocean. This creature uses its camouflage to ambush

its prey. This sea animal can reach a length of 70 cm.

Bowmouth Guitarfish

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This bizarre sea creature that looks like a guitarfish, a shark and a ray (3-in-1) is named Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina

ancylostoma) is found in the Red Sea, East Africa, Papua New Guinea, Japan and Australia. This large species which

is also known as Bowmouth Wedgefish or Shark Ray can grow up to 2.7m long and can weigh up to 135 kg.

Goosefish

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The unique-looking but edible Goosefish (Lophius americanus) is endemic to the eastern coast of North America. It is

also called American Anglerfish, All-mouth or Fishing Frog. Its various names suggest its unusual appearance - a very

large mouth, more than twice the width of the tail, with several spines and strong teeth, enabling it to snare prey larger

than itself. The front of the head carries erectile spines.

Thornback Guitarfish

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This odd-looking fish called Thornback Guitarfish (Platyrhinoidis triseriata), a species of ray found in the US and Mexico.

Its other common names include California Thornback, Guitarfish, Round Skate, Shovelnose, Thornback Ray, or Thornback.

European Bullhead

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This peculiar marine animal called European Bullhead or scientifically named Cottus gobio is a fish that is widely

distributed in Europe. It is a type of sculpin and has two alternative names: Miller's Thumb and Tommy logge.

Shovelnose Guitarfish

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Shovelnose Guitarfish which is scientifically known as Rhinobatos productus is a unique species of ray that ranges

from central California down to the Sea of Cortez. It has had one documented case of an attack on a diver when a male

guitarfish was interrupted during mating. Due to the tooth structure of the guitarfish, this attack could have resulted in a

"gumming" at worst.

Southern Pigfish

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Here is another bizarre sea creature - the Southern Pigfish or Congiopodus leucopaecilus. It is found around southern

Australia and New Zealand at depths of up to 100 m. This creature grows between 20 and 35 cm in length. It is an

elongate species with a steep front profile ending in a pointed snout with a tube-like mouth bearing many bands of small

teeth in each jaw.

Snailfish

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This scale-less and peculiar marine animal found from Arctic to Antarctic oceans. Its elongate, tadpole-like bodies

are similar in appearance to the rattails. Their heads are large with small eyes; their bodies are slender to deep,

tapering to a very small tail. Snailfish are scaleless with a thin, loose gelatinous skin.

Sea Robin

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This unique animal with unusual solid skull is not a bird but a sea creature named after a bird - the robin. This

bottom-feeding fish gets its name from their large pectoral fins that look like a bird's wings in flight. It dwells at

depths of up to 200 meters or 660 ft. Another distinctive feature is the presence of a "drumming muscle" that makes

sounds by beating against the swim bladder.

Estuarine Stonefish

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Syanaceja horrida, an ugly-looking creature, is a species of venomous fish. It is carnivorous and its spines are

venomous and lives on reef bottoms. It is one of the most venomous known fish in the world, and is often included

in private and public aquariums. It is usually found in coastal areas of the Indo-West Pacific: India to China, the

Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Lumpfish

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The creature on the above photo is a Cyclopterus lumpus, a kind of Lumpfish. It is also commonly called Lumpsucker

and can be found in the cold waters of Arctic, North Atlantic and North Pacific Ocean.

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The animal on the above picture is a Smooth Lumpfish. The roe of Cyclopterus lumpus, known as the stenbider

(literally "stone biter") in Danish, is used extensively in Danish cuisine. The roe is also used as an affordable

alternative to the sometimes wildly expensive caviar produced by sturgeons.

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Pacific Sanddab

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The Pacific Sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) is a medium sized flatflish that is endemic to the northern Pacific Ocean

from the Sea of Japan to the coast of California. Like other flatfish, they have both eyes on the same side of the head,

most often on the left side. They are most commonly found at a depth of 50-150 m. It is an opportunistic predator, feeding

on a variety of crustaceans as well as smaller fish, squid, and octopuses. It is a popular game fish in California, and is

regarded as a delicacy, though it is not as popular elsewhere.

Sand Devil

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The bizarre-shaped shark Sand Devil (Squatina dumeril) is also commonly called Atlantic Angel Shark found in the

western Atlantic Ocean. It's a peculiar species of shark with flattened bodies and broad pectoral fins that gives it a

strong resemblance to skates and rays. It is a bottom-dweller, often in shallow water and buried in sand or mud.

Monkfish

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The creepy-looking Monkfish or Headfish is of type of fish found in the northwest Atlantic.  It grows to a length of more

than 5 ft; specimens of 3 ft are common. The meat of this sea creature is edible. It is called Headfish for obvious reason -

it has a very large head.

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Pacific Angel Shark

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Squatina californica is the scientific name of the Pacific Angel Shark, an unusual species of shark with flattened bodies

and broad pectoral fins that gives it a strong resemblance to skates and rays. It occurs worldwide in temperate and

tropical seas. This species inhabit shallow temperate or tropical seas down to 1,300 meters or 4,300 ft.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For more amazing marine creatures see

Giant Creatures of the Deep Sea

25 Amazing and Bizarre Deep Sea Creatures

World’s Most Brightly Colored Fishes

Spirobranchus Giganteus: Seabed’s Delightful Sites in Connection with Christmas

10 Amazing Sea Creatures

Beauty and the Beast: 20 Most Venomous Fishes in the World

Amazing Flying Sea Creatures

Waterworld Creatures With Wings

Aquatic Animals with the Most Prominent and Longest Snouts