Everyone is terrified of sharks and understandably so. However, sharks are not the only dangerous creatures that lurk under the world’s oceans.
There are some scary, not too-good looking creatures at the bottom of the sea that will give you nightmares for weeks. Trust me, you will not want to go snorkeling or deep-sea diving after watching this.
You better pray for your life if you ever decide to take a dip in the waters of the world again because today we will scare the living daylights out of you as we countdown the 15 most dangerous fish in the world. So, put on your wet suit, close your eyes, and hope for the best!
Sawfish
Number 15 on our list is the Sawfish. Despite their shark-like form and manner of swimming, they are rays. These large- to huge-sized rays are characterized as having an elongated blade-like snout that has laterally placed tooth-like denticles set into sockets.
Sawfish inhabit all coastal tropical and subtropical waters, including estuaries and river systems. Sawfish developed from extinct primitive sharks. They are some of the largest rays living today.
The large-bodied species, which include the small tooth, large tooth, and green sawfish, commonly reach 16.4 feet. Scientists believe the maximum length of sawfish to be 24 feet.
The rostrum, often referred to as the “saw”, is used during feeding and for defense. It slashes its saw in a side-to-side motion to dislodge invertebrates from the substrate and to stun schooling fishes.
In addition, the sawfish can use its saw in defense against large predators such as sharks. Humans are too large to be viewed as potential prey.
Care must be taken when handling or approaching a sawfish of any size, as they may defend themselves when they feel threatened, using their rostrum to strike from side-to-side with considerable force.
Sounds like the aquatic version of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”!
STINGRAY
Number 14 on our list is the Stingray. Stingrays are commonly found in the shallow coastal waters of temperate seas.
They spend most of their time inactive, partially buried in sand, often moving only with the sway of the tide. The stingray’s coloration commonly reflects the seafloor’s shading, camouflaging it from predatory sharks and larger rays.
Their flattened bodies are composed of pectoral fins joined to their head and trunk with an infamous tail trailing behind. While the stingray’s eyes peer out from its dorsal side, its mouth, nostrils, and gill slits are situated on its underbelly. Its eyes are therefore not thought by scientists to play a considerable role in hunting.
Like its shark relatives, the stingray is outfitted with electrical sensors called ampullae of Lorenzini. Located around the stingray’s mouth, these organs sense the natural electrical charges of potential prey.
Many rays have jaw teeth to enable them to crush mollusks such as clams, oysters, and mussels. When they are inclined to move, most stingrays swim by undulating their bodies like a wave; others flap their sides like wings.
The tail may also be used to maneuver in the water, but its primary purpose is protection. The stingray’s spine, or barb, can be ominously fashioned with serrated edges and a sharp point.
The underside may produce venom, which can be fatal to humans, and which can remain deadly even after the stingray’s death. Remember what happened to that crazy “Aussie” Steve Irwin aka Crocodile Hunter?
BOX JELLYFISH
Number 13 on our list is the Box Jellyfish. They may not look dangerous, but the sting from a box jellyfish could be enough to send you to an early grave.
Box jellyfish, named for their body shape, have tentacles covered in biological booby traps known as nematocysts – tiny darts loaded with poison.
People and animals unfortunate enough to be injected with this poison may experience paralysis, cardiac arrest, and even death, all within a few minutes of being stung.
But don’t choose the mountains over the ocean just yet. Of the 50 or so species of box jellyfish, also called sea wasps, only a few have venom that can be lethal to humans.
While box jellyfish are found in warm coastal waters around the world, the lethal varieties are found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia.
The largest of the box jellyfish, have body sizes reaching up to one foot in diameter and thick, bootlace-like tentacles up to 10 feet long. Box jellyfish have traits that set them apart from other jellyfish.
Most notably, box jellyfish can swim—at maximum speeds approaching four knots—whereas most species of jellyfish float wherever the current takes them, with little control over their direction.
Box jellyfish can also see. They have clusters of eyes on each side of the box. Some of these eyes are surprisingly sophisticated, with a lens and cornea, an iris that can contract in bright light, and a retina.
Their speed and vision lead some researchers to believe that box jellyfish actively hunt their prey, mainly shrimp and small fish.
