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Forget about zombies, ghosts and vampires.
Lurking in the deepest depths of the world’s oceans are creatures so bizarre you’d think they’re straight out of a sci-fi novel.
Glass squid, fanged fish, and even a doomsday beast are among the many creatures hiding up to 26,686 ft (8,134 m) below the surface.
And many of these deep-water species are rarely seen by humans – which only adds to their mystery and appeal.
In the wake of divers capturing the extremely rare moment when a giant fish believed to predict earthquakes surfaced in Taiwan, MailOnline has compiled a list of some of the deep’s other bizarre creatures.
1. Glass squid
This ghostly creature is known as the glass squid – with its internal organs visible to all as it lurks in dark waters.
In addition to its highly visible digestive gland, the 20-inch balloon-like squid retains ammonia solutions in its body, which helps it stay afloat.
But in times of danger, the squid can curl up into a ball by stuffing its head and tentacles into itself, according to Woods Hole Oceanographic Setting.
Changing their transparent skin to camouflaged black is also another of the squid’s abilities, which it does by injecting itself with ink.
It is believed that there are at least 60 species of glass squid, often living in surface waters during their youth before moving into the ‘twilight zone’ as they age.
Some species even live 2000 meters below the sea surface.
The glass squid has its internal organs visible to all as it floats in dark water
2. Snailfish
In 2017, this shellless species was discovered to be the world’s deepest living fish — more than 26,686 ft (8,134 m) below the ocean’s surface.
The Mariana snailfish was sighted in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench, located south of Japan, which is called the “hadal zone” after Hades, the Greek god of the dead.
An apex predator in its dark world, this translucent fish subsists on small crustaceans and shrimp at depths nearly as deep as Mount Everest is high.
Dr. Alan Jamieson from the University of Aberdeen previously told MailOnline: ‘This really deep fish didn’t look like anything we’d seen before, nor does it look like anything we’re familiar with.
“It’s incredibly fragile, with large wing-like fins and a head that resembles a cartoon dog.”
Unfortunately, people rarely see this 11-inch fish in the flesh, as they generally stay away from sunlit waters.
In 2017, a rare Mariana snailfish was discovered to be the deepest living fish in the world
3. Fang
This aptly named fish is known for its fearsome razor-sharp fangs and grotesquely large jaws.
According to Smithsonianthey even have special mouth pouches to prevent them from cutting themselves open with their own teeth.
Toothed toothfish are also some of the deepest-living fish known, often found at depths of 5,000 m (16,404 ft) below the surface.
But they do occasionally appear in sunlit waters as they hunt for food late at night.
Crustaceans, small fish and even squid are part of their diet, with the claw-like teeth used to grasp prey before swallowing it whole.
This aptly named fish is known for its fearsome razor-sharp fangs and grotesquely large jaws
4. Dragonfish
These mystical deep-sea fish have a shimmering metallic hue that makes them look almost too beautiful to be a skilled hunter.
But don’t be fooled, its bronze scales are the perfect camouflage disguise to sneak up on prey.
Although dragonfish are strong swimmers, they prefer to lie patiently before ambushing unsuspecting fish and crustaceans.
They often use light as a clever trick to lure their prey, thanks to a luminous filament protruding from their chin.
A tool known as counter lighting can also be used to mask their silhouette so they blend in with the environment when it’s vital to hide.
However, their disguise can also be their downfall, as if they go unnoticed they are often swallowed completely unconsciously by other larger fish.
The twilight zone starts where only 1 percent of the light comes and ends where there is no light at all. There is so little light at this level that marine life must rely on dim silhouettes to find prey. So the highfin dragonfish produces light to mask its silhouette
5. Oarfish
In many parts of the world, this fish is known as an omen for bad news.
There is a popular but unproven belief that oarfish sightings are a warning of upcoming natural disasters, as they would appear before tsunamis or earthquakes.
Oarfish are very rare to see in the wild, as they usually swim at depths of 650 to 3,300 ft (198 m to 1,005 m) – but they occasionally swim near the surface where they can are being observed.
While they can grow up to 8 meters in length, there have also been unconfirmed sightings of oarfish up to 15 meters.
Because they thrive at great depths, few can survive if pulled into shallow waters where the currents are more turbulent.
The giant oarfish with shimmering silver scales was eerily seen floating upright near Taipei’s Ruifang district
6. Fringed Shark
This dark brown species is actually known as the fringe shark – named for its six pairs of distinctive fringe-like gills and dorsal fins
At first glance, there is no doubt that many mistake this creature for an eel.
But this dark brown species is actually known as the fringed shark — named for its six pairs of distinctive fringe-like gills and dorsal fins.
Believe it or not, the shark’s origins date back 80 million years and are only one of two living species from this period.
Scary enough, they usually have about 300 teeth in 25 separate rows and in many cases grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m) long.
At this point, much is still unknown about its biology and habitat, but they are mostly found between depths of 393 ft to 4,199 ft (120 m and 1,280 m).