Top 10 Scariest Looking Fish

Top 10 Scariest Looking Fish

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Better cancel that beachside all-inclusive vacation; we pretty much guarantee you'll never step foot in the ocean again after this. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down the Top 10 Scariest Looking Fish. For this list, the fish in question don’t necessarily need to be dangerous, aggressive or deadly. They just need to be terrifying and monstrous to behold.

Piranhas are scary enough without needing any help. But what if we told you there was giant piranha-related fish with… (wait for it)... human-like teeth. Large, carnivorous fish have an inherent knack for intimidation. Adding something so human to the faces of these otherwise alien-looking creatures is sure to send shivers down the spine of even the most seasoned fisherman. Combine these big square teeth with the fact that they can grow to over 3 feet-long and 55 lbs in weight and that’s one intimidating river monster! Although not as aggressive as their piranha cousins, they’ll eat almost anything.

Remember that horrifying moment in Alien when a chestburster pops out of John Hurt’s stomach like some deep-space jack in the box, releasing a super-soaker spray of blood? More blood-curdling than that is the knowledge that an identical looking creature actually lives on this planet. While many varieties exist, the deep sea dragonfish is by far the creepiest, with a bioluminescent barbel hanging from its sharp-fanged jaw, which it uses to lure unsuspecting victims. It may only grow to about 6 inches long (though sometimes more), but this little fish is a fierce predator.

Anyone who says size doesn’t matter clearly never encountered this freshwater behemoth. Your average catfish? A little ugly, but nothing to be afraid of. The wels catfish, on the other hand, can grow to 13 feet in length and weigh a whopping 880 lbs. It’s found all over Europe and eats fish and any other small amphibian or mammal with the misfortune of crossing its path. There are even stories of wels catfish eating humans. This fish is so large that Loch Ness Monster hunter, Steve Feltham, believes it to be the true species of the elusive Scottish lake monster.

While it has the jaws of an alligator, this thing looks more like a dinosaur. And that’s not far from the truth. The alligator gar is often referred to as a “living fossil,” as it retains many characteristics of its ancestors. Fossils of these fish can be found dating back as far as the Early Cretaceous Period, over 100 million years ago. At up to 10 feet long and over 300 lbs, it’s a true prehistoric predator. “Swimming with the fishes” already suggests a gruesome fate, but how about “swimming with the dinosaurs”?

Why do we like to name fish after other animals found on land? Can’t fish be scary in their own right? The Tigerfish has such a distinct viciousness to its appearance that it needs no help in making a name for itself. It is lean, muscular and has disproportionately large teeth. Found all across Africa, the largest and most deadly of the species, the Goliath Tigerfish, calls the Congo River home. While other carnivorous fish are known to eat unsuspecting birds resting on the water, the Tigerfish is known to leap out of the water and trap them mid-flight.

We can all agree that pelicans are funny looking. The saggy, stretchy throat makes them look like a bullfrog, no? Then there are the awkward stubby legs? The ungraceful takeoffs? The deep-sea type of gulper eel, also called the pelican eel, shares the expanding lower jaw with the pelican, but the comparison ends there. Rarely seen by humans, this creature is truly otherworldly. The expanding jaw and matching stomach lets them eat fish and crustaceans as large as themselves. Small, beady eyes evolved to spot the faintest movements in the dark ocean depths, while a bioluminescent tail sways to entice its unsuspecting victims. Sheer terror.

By now, we shouldn’t be surprised by the overlap of classic sci-fi films and the creatures on this list. It seems that our oceans are scarier than the furthest reaches of space and the imaginations of monster makers in Hollywood. Sarlacc and space slug from Star Wars and sandworm from Dune; meet your cousin, the lamprey. Long cylindrical fish of varying sizes, they have round, funnel-shaped mouths filled with row upon row of sharp teeth. These unique mouths are used to latch onto moving targets, eating away at the flesh until they reach the blood and bodily fluids they crave.

Remember how you used to draw shark teeth as kid? Just a giant strip of white with a jagged edge? Well, in a nightmarish turn of events, your crude drawing has come to life and swims warm oceanic waters around the world. The cookiecutter shark ranges from 17 to 22 inches in length and has a long, cigar-shaped body. It has suctorial lips that allow it to suck on flesh. From this position it slowly spins, biting down with its saw-like teeth to remove a large oval of flesh, often 2 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches deep.

This creature of the deep is pretty much one big mouth with fins. Like many fish that live near the ocean floor, it uses bioluminescence to attract its food. Unlike many other fish, whose lure hangs beneath its lower jaw, the anglerfish has a fleshy protrusion growing out of its forehead. Called an “esca,” it uses it like a fishing rod, directing other fish directly to its mouth full of sharp teeth. These teeth are angled inwards so prey can swim in, but escape is rendered impossible. This massive mouth also allows it to swallow victims twice its size. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Piranha Great White Shark Viperfish Marine Hatchetfish

Oh, horrifying monster clown of the deep, we salute you as the scariest looking fish, and you were up against some serious competition. This rare deep sea shark has pink, fleshy skin and looks like some sort of deformed human-shark hybrid. The elongated snout looks like a long, misshapen human nose that, paired with a mouthful of thin, sharp, nail-like teeth, makes for a haunting sight. More terrifying however, are its jaws, which extend forward and expand when it attacks. While not considered a threat to humans, they have been known to bite. And if looks truly can kill, then the goblin shark must be deadly. Do you agree with our list? What horrifying fish haunt you in your dreams? For more terrifying top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.