There are plenty of fish in the sea, and some are far more unusual than others.
Click start to play today’s Spell It, where you can find “shoals” of them.
The world’s oceans are home to some incredible-looking fish. Apart from the celebrities that we know and love, like dolphins, clownfish and whale sharks, there exist other marine animals that stand out for a few different reasons. In fact, some are so strange and peculiar that it’s difficult to believe they really exist!
Here are a few that are worth a second look:
1. Leafy sea dragon
With bizarre leaf-like protrusions, this sea dragon looks more like a piece of seaweed than a fish. As part of the seahorse family, the leafy sea dragon’s plant-like appearance helps it sneak up on unsuspecting prey, and hide from predators looking for their next meal. It’s also British historian and presenter David Attenborough’s favourite animal!
2. Boxfish
Its name fits it perfectly – shaped like a box, the boxfish is a peaceful creature despite possessing deadly toxin, which it releases when stressed or injured. Its shape is a result of its shell-like bony structure called carapace. Bright yellow in colour, the boxfish’s colour fades as it ages, until it becomes blue-grey and even black.
3. Stonefish
Masters of camouflage, stonefish can blend in so perfectly with their surroundings that their prey, predators and even humans cannot spot them. They sit still on the sea floor among rocky reefs, and sometimes even have algae growing on them. They’re the world’s most venomous fish – their venom is capable of killing an adult in less than an hour. However, they don’t use venom to capture prey, rather to avoid predators.
4. Asian sheepshead wrasse
With a bulbous chin and a large face connecting to a protruding forehead, this reef fish isn’t the prettiest. Found mainly in Japan and China, they can grow up to 100cm and are solitary creatures, often found swimming around coral reefs and preying on marine species independently.
5. Fangtooth
Fangtooth fish have disproportionate teeth that add to their truly terrifying appearance. With small eyes set high above their heads, they move around 5,000m below the surface of the sea. Despite how they look, they are harmless to humans.
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