Rare Deep-Sea Creatures Spotted: Black Seadevil, Goblin Shark & More!

The ocean's depths hold bizarre creatures, some recently seen near the surface. A black seadevil (Melanocetus johnsonii), usually dwelling 200-2,000 meters deep, surfaced in Tenerife, Canary Islands, photographed by shark researchers. Its swim towards the light sparked emotional reactions online. Similarly, an oarfish, or "doomsday fish," appeared, though its association with disasters is mere superstition. Other rare sightings include the vampire squid, not a bloodsucker but a detritus feeder with large blue eyes; the elusive goblin shark with its paddle-shaped snout and extendable jaws; a 10-meter-long ghostly jellyfish in California, usually found at extreme depths; the primitive frilled shark; and the uniquely patterned whitetail stingray, first spotted in 1984 and formally described in 2007. These rare appearances offer glimpses into the mysterious deep sea.