Strangest Deep Sea Giants That Make the Ocean Truly Scary

Bright Side

Dive into the strangest and most fascinating mysteries of the ocean. From gigantic creatures that evolved in the cold darkness to bizarre animals you’d never want to meet on a beach day, this video reveals how wild and unpredictable the underwater world can be. Discover why the deep sea creates giants, learn how storms bring hidden monsters to the surface, and explore the incredible adaptations that let these creatures survive in conditions humans can barely imagine.  Animation is created by Bright Side.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV  Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Our Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightplanet/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en   Stock materials (photos, footages and other):  https://www.depositphotos.com  https://www.shutterstock.com  https://www.eastnews.ru  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

00:00Most of the ocean is still shrouded in mystery, whether we're talking about dark corners or

00:05creatures that are hiding in the depths. But sometimes, it gives us a peek into scary things

00:11it hides in its cold, dark depths. Like when you hear on the news that there are some deep-sea

00:16creatures washed ashore after a powerful storm once again. Some just look weird, while others

00:22are real monsters that live at depths of more than 3,300 feet. The coldest and deepest parts

00:30of the ocean have created one specific phenomenon called gigantism. So, sea spiders, squids, worms,

00:38and many other animals, mostly invertebrates or creatures without backbones, they're all way

00:43bigger and scarier than the versions we see in the more shallow areas. In the Pacific depths,

00:49you can see a sea sponge as large as a minivan. Or what about the colossal squid that lives in

00:56sub-Antarctic waters and is nearly 14 times longer than the arrow squid, a type that mostly lives in

01:03New Zealand? Researchers found many of these underwater monsters in the abyssal zone of the

01:08ocean. Back in 2021, the researchers showed images of the giant phantom jelly. It was at a depth of 3,200

01:16feet. Its tentacles were 33 feet long. Wow, I wouldn't like to face that one on the beach.

01:24It probably eats only small fish and plankton, but it can swim to depths of more than 21,900 feet.

01:32And down there, this giant jelly doesn't have enough food. How does it survive then? Scientists

01:38haven't figured it out yet. And there are even more questions related to the giant squid,

01:44the biggest one ever found. This monster is 43 feet long with a weight of nearly a ton.

01:52Imagine if those tentacles would grab your car or something like that. They would smash it like it

01:57was a toy. There's no light in the abyssal zone. Sun rays just can't penetrate that deep. So there's

02:05no algae or underwater plants there. Local animals mostly eat snow. Marine snow is not like the regular

02:13one you build a snowman with. It consists of any small flakes or remains that fall from the surface

02:19of the ocean. Maybe even some leftovers that animals up there couldn't eat. So it's not much.

02:26But apparently, it's enough for very large creatures that hide deep down there, like giant squids.

02:33Squids that generally live at such depths don't bother going after their prey.

02:37They just wait until the poor animal swims right up to their long tentacles and falls

02:42into a trap. It may not be the best method ever, because not many animals will even swim

02:48into these dark, cold parts. But it's the method that saves energy.

02:53A giant squid eats only one ounce of fish daily, which is approximately 45 calories. That's nearly

03:0050 times fewer calories than an average person should eat per day. So when a squid gets one fish,

03:07it saves it for a couple of days. I hope giant squids won't get the idea to go to the surface

03:13and look for food when there's not enough of it in the abyssal zone. And I hope even more that giant

03:18Greenland sharks won't get that same idea. You can find them at depths of up to 7,200 feet.

03:26They're twice as slow as we usually walk. They swim at a speed of 1.12 feet per second.

03:33Their slowness is part of the energy-saving mechanism that creatures down there need to

03:37survive. But they can speed up in the form of short bursts when they need to catch prey.

03:43But they kind of change their diet from predator to scavenger, considering their environment.

03:48There will be more leftovers falling from the surface than animals to go after.

03:52Greenland sharks grow just 0.4 inches per year. And they're mostly 20 feet long. Which means they

04:01live for a very long time, sometimes up to 400 years. They also have a slow metabolism. And that's

04:08one of the main factors for their long life, too. Greenland sharks like to spend their time in cold

04:15waters. They're adapted to that, since their tissues have specific chemical compounds that prevent

04:20the forming of ice crystals all over their body. That means they have some sort of natural antifreeze.

04:27So what makes them so big? Scientists are still not sure. But some theories try to explain it.

04:35There's this thing called Clibber's Rule that says bigger animals tend to be more efficient.

04:40Just take a small fish and compare it to a whale, with a mass hundreds of times bigger.

04:45The whale has a greater metabolism. It conserves energy more efficiently, and loses less of it to

04:52the surroundings through heat. Moving on. Bigger animals can ingest bigger prey. They're more likely to

04:59go through tough issues in their environment, or defend themselves from predators going after them.

05:05Also, the body gets bigger when temperatures are lower. The Greenland shark is a perfect example.

05:10So are giant sea spiders. Sea spiders are generally common, and you find some very small ones at

05:180.04 inches. But in deeper parts of the Antarctic, they become three-foot-long giants. They grow so big

05:26because the cold water has more oxygen. That way, more of it diffuses into the animal's body, and that

05:32allows it to grow bigger. Yeah, both as a creature and a nightmare. And how about this giant tube worm?

05:40Researchers found it accidentally while they were exploring the mysteries of the Pacific Ocean floor.

05:46They stumbled upon unusual hydrothermal vents. Volcanic heat is a thing that gets them going.

05:52As water seeps down through faults or cracks in the rock, these vents change their direction.

05:58When the water gets out of the vent, it's rich in different minerals and chemicals.

06:02Most animals wouldn't survive being around this toxic soup of chemicals, but not these tube worms.

06:10They came as a true surprise. Because not only are they not bothered by these toxic vents and the

06:19almost boiling temperature of the water, but they developed entire ecosystems there.

06:24They're unique because they don't need sunlight to survive. Instead, small bacteria are their main

06:30source of energy. That bacteria gets their energy directly from these toxic chemicals.

06:35So it's not photosynthesis, but a process called chemosynthesis. And these tube worms don't have

06:42mouths. These bacteria live inside them. Strange story, huh? Plus, these scary worms reach up to 8 feet.

06:51Giant isopods are no better either. They lurk at the depths of the ocean of 1,640 feet or more below,

06:59far away from the sunlight, looking like some monstrous wood lice. They spend most of their time on the

07:06seabed, hoping to find some food falling from higher levels of the ocean. Check out their small

07:12hooked claws at the ends of their legs. Isopods use them to remain more stable while moving around the

07:18ocean floor. Since there's no light, they have long antennae that help them feel their way around.

07:25These sensory antennas are about half the length of their body. Giant isopods have pretty big eyes

07:31compared to their body size, too. They can grow over 12 inches from head to tail. And these fellas

07:37are really patient. Remember how we said animals down there rarely get food? Sometimes they need to

07:44wait for years to get a proper meal. That's why their metabolism is amazingly slow.

07:49Five years later, they can go for five years without eating anything. Imagine that. I get hungry just

07:58talking about this. In 2006, a biologist did research to compare the differences between the

08:05shallows and the deep sea regions. He realized the deep sea mirrors the island rule. First, isolated parts

08:12of land develop biodiversity you won't find anywhere else. Second, small-bodied life there grows much

08:19bigger when it's isolated, compared to life on large land masses. Resources are limited, but also

08:25competition and predators. And we don't know much about these deep sea creatures. It's too expensive

08:33and too complicated to carry out such research. So we'll just wait for more raging storms to show us

08:39as at least part of the monstrous world cold ocean depths hide.

08:45There's a creature somewhere deep in the ocean looking for prey that would make Dracula himself proud.

08:53It's been around since before even the dinosaurs walked the earth. It has no bones or jaw, but it doesn't

09:00stop this underwater vampire from hunting. The name of this eel-like parasite is the Pacific Lamprey.

09:08The English monarch loved this fish so much that he defied doctor's orders to stop eating lamprey flesh.

09:16He got sick every time he'd have the original gooey fish. But the lack of bones and the fact that this

09:22lamprey tastes like slow-cooked beefsteak made the royal fall in love with the fish once and for all.

09:28The product of this love was a chill in his aged body, some heavy sweating, and some other scary symptoms,

09:35which eventually took his life and interrupted his 35-year reign.

09:40The lamprey is way better at surviving, as it lived through at least four mass extinctions.

09:46Its ancient ancestors evolved over 450 million years ago. There are around 40 living species of

09:53lampreys still thriving across the world. The Pacific Lamprey is just one of them.

09:59These creatures have cartilage instead of bones, and a third eye, which is a special light-sensing

10:04organ on the top of their heads. Instead of a regular jaw, they have a sucker mouth surrounded

10:10by teeth. It's perfect for latching onto prey and sipping up body fluids like underwater vampires.

10:17Once they pick a victim, they suction it, making a seal that's almost impossible to break.

10:22Scientists believe the Pacific Lampreys don't munch on flesh. Female lampreys lay up to 200,000 eggs in nests

10:31that stay in fresh water for three to four weeks. Once the larvae hatch, they burrow into sediment and stay

10:37under the sand for up to a decade. When they hit their teenage years, these miniature draculas re-emerge

10:44and migrate from fresh water all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This journey isn't the easiest,

10:50and it takes some changes to its appearance and physiology to adapt to a huge change in salinity.

10:56After several years, they go back to fresh water to reproduce. Pacific Lampreys can use chemical

11:02clues released by their larval migrating pals to find their way. They can travel hundreds of miles

11:08inland to find the perfect spot for spawning and rearing. It's not always the same place they spawned

11:13in. Many species of birds, mammals, and other fish can appreciate the fatty flesh of lamprey.

11:20This makes them some of the most valuable players in fresh water and marine ecosystems.

11:26Another lamprey type, the sea lamprey, is native to the Atlantic Ocean. It's not that dangerous when

11:32it's at home, but once it gets to the Great Lakes, it becomes a real threat to the four local native

11:39species of lamprey. The sea lamprey is up to four times bigger than the lake species. It has unlimited

11:46food and spawning grounds, and no natural predators here, so it becomes cocky. It secretes an enzyme

11:52that doesn't let the blood clot. Once it attaches to some unsuspecting fish, it spends the next several

11:59months feeding off of it. And even if the fish shakes the lamprey off, it doesn't have long to live

12:05because the mark the predator leaves behind. Sea lampreys aren't interested in humans, but can

12:11accidentally latch onto a swimmer. It won't be fatal, but it's not the most pleasant sensation,

12:16and you'd need to get the spot of the impact disinfected.

12:20The Australian box jellyfish looks harmless, but it's considered the most venomous marine animal.

12:27Unlike other kinds of jellyfish that float with the current rather than swim,

12:31this creature can reach an impressive speed and choose its own direction. It has tentacles covered

12:37with tiny darts loaded with poison. People and animals that get unlucky enough to meet with those

12:43tentacles face some scary and sometimes even fatal consequences in a matter of minutes.

12:50Before you decide to never revisit the ocean, you should know that only a few out of around 50

12:56existing species of box jellyfish have venom that is lethal to humans. There are some not so

13:01dangerous species living in warm coastal waters worldwide, and the most dangerous ones are in the

13:07Indo-Pacific region and northern Australia. A blue-ringed octopus spots a signature psychedelic

13:14color and the ability to take away your life. This cute-looking sea monster likes to spend its time in

13:21the soft sandy bottom or shallow tide pools and coral reefs. It normally hides in underwater crevices among

13:28shells or debris. If you disturb it, the octopus will activate its tiny color-changing organs and demonstrate

13:34its blue rings as a warning signal. The next step will be releasing a venom a thousand times more powerful

13:41than cyanide. This venom is more toxic than that of land mammals. The octopus normally uses it to hunt crabs,

13:49shrimp, and small fish by pecking them with its beak and paralyzing them. There is no known antidote for the venom,

13:56so if you ever see this sea creature, the best you can do is to stay away from it. It bites without any pain,

14:04so you might notice when it's too late. The good news is that it's not aggressive and won't go after you unless it's cornered.

14:11The reef stonefish are masters of disguise in the underwater world that camouflage themselves on rocks,

14:18coral reefs, or just blend into the seabed. They thrive throughout tropical marine waters of the

14:24Indo-Pacific. Their invisibility superpower makes them especially dangerous to their prospective victims

14:31they ambush and swallow whole. If someone happens to disturb them, their 13 defensive dorsal spines

14:38stand on end and deliver a powerful venom punch. They say stonefish stings are extra painful and lead

14:46to scary consequences within minutes. They're called the most venomous fish in the world. If you don't do

14:52anything about it, the impact can be lethal. If you ever go diving in the Pacific Ocean, be careful not to

15:00pick up a cone snail from the seafloor. It has a beautiful shell made of brown, black, or white patterns.

15:06Like most other snails, it's slow, but it has a complicated system of seeking out prey.

15:12It likes to snack on fish, marine worms, or even other snails. Once a cone snail senses food is near,

15:19it activates a sharp proboscis or a needle-like protrusion from its mouth. The attack is swift and super

15:26potent. The victim doesn't even have time to realize what happened to them. Once it's completely incapable of

15:32moving, the cone snail swallows it whole. Humans aren't on its menu, but it can still release the venom if

15:39someone steps on it or disturbs it. The proboscis can even penetrate gloves. Luckily, only several out of

15:46over 700 species of cone snails can take a human's life, but since there's no antivenom, you better

15:52not risk it. All 52 known species of sea snakes living mostly in the warm tropical waters of the

15:59Indian and Pacific Oceans are venomous. The beaked sea snake even has the title of one of the world's

16:05most venomous serpents, but it's one of the few kinds that can pose a real threat to humans. Sea snakes

16:12prefer a peaceful coexistence and would rather slither away than engage in any confrontations.

16:18If you ever see them in the water, staying calm and moving slowly will save your life. Sea snake bites,

16:25although almost painless at the moment, can have varying degrees of impact. Some may only cause mild

16:31symptoms, while others can lead to severe outcomes. Most bite reports come from accidental encounters,

16:38like someone freeing them from nets or unsuspecting beachgoers stepping on them.

16:43Blue dragons rarely grow larger than the size of a grape. They like to swim belly up, so their

16:49brightest blues blend in with the ocean waters, and the silver front faces down and camouflages with the

16:55darker seabed. Blue dragons feed on another dangerous sea creature and store up their stinging cells.

17:02Their venom lives on even after the fish itself is no longer alive. That's why you should be extra

17:09careful and never pick up or step on them on the beach. That's it for today. So hey, if you pacified your

17:16curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends. Or if you want more, just click on

17:21these videos and stay on the Bright Side!

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