Imagine swimming in the ocean and coming face-to-face with creatures that seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie. Take the megalodon, for instance, a massive prehistoric shark that could easily swallow a small boat—thankfully, it's extinct! Then there's the colossal squid, with eyes the size of dinner plates and tentacles that can stretch up to 46 feet long. Sailors have spun tales of the Kraken, a legendary sea monster that could supposedly drag entire ships underwater. Let's see which of them are real, and which - not so much. Animation is created by Bright Side.
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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.
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00:00The largest and most ferocious predator to ever haunt the oceans, the Megalodon shark
00:05dominated the seas for centuries before becoming extinct millions of years ago.
00:10However, scientists managed to discover very few remnants of the giant shark.
00:15Everything we know about the great sea beast we've learned thanks to fossils of its giant
00:19teeth, which are just about the size of the average human hand.
00:24Scientists estimated the size of the prehistoric shark using calculations based on the measurement
00:29of the length of a Megalodon tooth.
00:31On average, the size of a Megalodon shark was 33 feet long.
00:36The largest of the species could reach up to 58 feet long.
00:39However, these megasharks may have been even bigger than we ever thought.
00:44At the Florida Museum of Natural History, a group of students examined 3D-printed replicas
00:49of Megalodon teeth to calculate the shark's size using the tooth-length method.
00:54But something was off.
00:55Each student calculated a different size for the same shark, with their estimates ranging
01:00from 40 feet to 180 feet.
01:03A lead paleontologist took a look at the students' equations.
01:06He realized that the method they used to calculate Megalodon's sizes for decades isn't that
01:11accurate at all.
01:12So, they invented a new method to calculate the Megalodon's size based on the width of
01:17the Megalodon tooth instead of its length.
01:20It turned out that the average Megalodon would be around 65 feet long.
01:24That's almost double the size scientists previously thought, and would mean that the
01:28average Megalodon is the length of two school buses.
01:32A Megalodon skeleton has never been discovered.
01:35Shark skeletons are made mostly of cartilage, meaning that they decompose quickly.
01:40Luckily, sharks continuously shed and regrow teeth throughout their lives.
01:45One shark can go through 40,000 teeth in a single lifetime.
01:49Scientists have managed to study different types of shark species based on their teeth
01:52alone.
01:54The Megalodon shark had around 276 teeth.
01:57When they fell out, these teeth landed in seabed where they stayed for millions of years
02:02fossilizing.
02:04Scientists found those teeth, and they're the only real record we have of the Megalodon's
02:08existence.
02:09The word Megalodon means giant tooth.
02:12Its tooth is around 7 inches long.
02:14For comparison, the largest tooth of a great white shark is only 3 inches long.
02:19To find a bigger set of choppers, you'd have to go back 65 million years to find the
02:24great Tyrannosaurus rex, whose teeth measured a whopping 12 inches!
02:30Megalodon teeth have been discovered all over the world.
02:33It means that, unlike other marine animals of its time, the Megalodon was intercontinental.
02:38Even today, most sharks and marine animals tend to stick to one sea or ocean.
02:43The Megalodon shark swam freely around the world, moving between tropical and subtropical
02:48waters.
02:49Megalodon teeth have been found in every continent apart from the freezing cold waters of Antarctica.
02:55When a Megalodon makes a starring appearance in a movie or TV show, it's portrayed to
03:00look like a giant version of a great white shark.
03:03Scientists previously believed that the Megalodon and the great white shark both descended from
03:08one common ancestor.
03:09Still, it's not true.
03:11In fact, it's more likely that the Megalodon was the archenemy of the great white shark's
03:16ancestor, the broad-toothed mako shark.
03:19That means Megalodon wouldn't have looked so similar to the great white after all.
03:23In reality, the Megalodon would have a shorter nose than the great white, along with longer
03:28pectoral fins to give the giant shark a stockier and more threatening build.
03:33Not only was the Megalodon the largest shark in the world, but it was also one of the biggest
03:38fish ever to exist.
03:40An apex predator of this size would've needed a huge diet to keep it moving.
03:44The Megalodon would have eaten 2,500 pounds of food every day.
03:50The Megalodon diet consisted of larger species of fish, dolphins, and even other species
03:55of sharks.
03:56Ancient fossilized whale bones with cut marks of Megalodon teeth have been discovered.
04:01It means Megalodons weren't intimidated by the size and tried to feast on the giant whales
04:06of the past.
04:08Scientists have used computer simulations to try and work out the hunting style of the
04:12ancient shark.
04:13Using this technology, scientists have discovered that the Megalodon's attack style was very
04:18different from that of modern-day sharks.
04:21Modern sharks dive straight for their prey's most vulnerable spot, for example, the soft
04:26underbelly of a seal.
04:28The Megalodon's teeth were uniquely suited to biting through tougher areas of cartilage.
04:33So evidence suggests that a Megalodon would first chew the tougher fins of their prey,
04:38rendering them unable to swim away before launching into their final attack.
04:43The mouth of a Megalodon was around 10 feet wide and 9 feet tall – large enough for
04:47you to swim into without touching any teeth.
04:51However, we don't recommend that.
04:53Their mouths were so large a Megalodon could swallow a small car without even having to
04:58bite down on it.
04:59Research teams from Australia and the U.S. collaborated to work out the biting power
05:03of the Megalodon using computer simulations.
05:06The results were terrifying.
05:08While the modern Great White Shark has the biting power of 1.8 tons of force, the Megalodon
05:14could easily chomp down on its prey with a biting power of 18.2 tons.
05:20The bite of the Megalodon would easily be able to cut through steel and overpower any
05:24other predator in the ocean.
05:27The Stonefish
05:30Stonefish aren't going to win any beauty contests.
05:33Unless the pageant is for best rock look-alike.
05:36Their tiny unreflective eyes and rough skin blend in perfectly with their environment.
05:41A large head, an even bigger mouth, and a home full of, yeah, it's rocks.
05:47And just because you're on the beach doesn't mean you're safe.
05:51Stonefish can survive for 24 hours out of the water.
05:55Stepping on one or even handling one won't be that fun.
05:59Their dorsal fin spines have extremely strong venom.
06:03It shoots out when they get stepped on and can lead to paralysis or even heart failure.
06:08You'll need help fast.
06:10No wonder they're one of the most dangerous creatures in the water or anywhere.
06:14Be careful when scrambling around rocky areas.
06:17They love to play hide and seek.
06:21The Deep Sea Dragonfish
06:24If there were a prize for the most hideous fish in the ocean, the Deep Sea Dragonfish
06:29would win.
06:30With slimy, scaleless skin, massive teeth, and a face only a mother could love, this
06:36bad boy of the sea is nothing to mess with.
06:40It likes to swim between 700 feet and 6,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, where
06:45the waters are the darkest and coldest.
06:48Along with some other creatures on this list, the Deep Sea Dragonfish relies on its bioluminescent
06:53body parts to catch prey.
06:56It also uses its hanging appendage, which boasts a little red light on the end, coming
07:01out from its lower jaw.
07:04Many fish mistake this little light for prey, luring them right into the jaws of the Deep
07:09Sea Dragonfish.
07:10Very clever, Dragonfish, very clever indeed.
07:15The Fangtooth
07:18The Mariana Trench is an underwater trench with a depth of 35,000 feet, nearly 7 miles
07:24below the ocean's surface.
07:26Let that sink in.
07:28While scientists know the Mariana Trench exists, it's one of the least explored places on
07:33Earth.
07:34It's also the deepest area of Earth's oceans.
07:37And although many creatures down there probably haven't even been seen by humans yet, scientists
07:43have had the creepy pleasure of getting to know the Fangtooth.
07:47The Fangtooth fish shamelessly lives up to its name.
07:51Just look at that thing.
07:52The Fangtooth is carnivorous and feeds on just about anything it can find that gets
07:57caught in its sharp-toothed mouth.
08:00These fish rely on their contact chemoreception to find prey.
08:05In other words, they can sense chemical residue that comes off of other living organisms in
08:09the deep sea.
08:11This is because they don't have any light-producing cells on their bodies, unlike many other deep
08:16sea fish.
08:17On top of all that, it's pretty dark down there.
08:21So whatever crosses their path, they chomp on.
08:24While these guys look pretty scary, they're not a threat to humans.
08:28They only grow about 7 inches long.
08:31Even so, I wouldn't want to run into one of these things during a relaxing swim in the
08:35ocean.
08:37The Dunkleosteus
08:41Strangely enough, this prehistoric fish, known as the T-Rex of the seas, had no teeth.
08:47Those were replaced with bony plates that allowed it to have the strongest bite among
08:52other monsters of its size.
08:56The Goblin Shark
08:59If you thought the movies about sharks were scary, this next deep sea creature will make
09:03you swear off going for dips in the ocean forever.
09:06However, it lives 3,000 feet underwater, so you'll never likely see it face to face.
09:13The Goblin Shark looks like a cross between a shark and a creature from your worst nightmare.
09:19These sharks boast a protruding, sword-like snout with a jaw that juts out to match.
09:25Unlike other sharks that have more of a gray hue, this creepy thing looks not so pretty
09:31in pink.
09:32Aside from their scary demeanor, what do scientists really know about the Goblin Shark?
09:37Well, not much, except that they can grow up to 18 feet in length.
09:42Looks like there's still a lot to learn about these guys, if you dare to.
09:48By the way, did you know that sharks don't sleep?
09:51Many species have to keep water moving over their gills to get oxygen, so they can't
09:56fall into a deep sleep like we do.
09:59That's why they stay half-awake during rest.
10:02Typically, sharks don't even close their eyes.
10:06The Cookie Cutter Shark
10:10This shark is a living horror, with lower teeth being big and sharp, while the upper
10:15ones are much smaller.
10:17When its teeth fall off, the shark eats them to maintain calcium levels.
10:22Pretty smart solution for a shark.
10:25The Frilled Shark
10:29Studying the Frilled Shark is like looking through a portal back to prehistoric times.
10:33That's because scientists think that these eel-like sharks haven't changed much since
10:38their oldest ancestors roamed the deep sea waters, so they're sometimes referred to as
10:44living fossils.
10:45These sharks' mouths are filled with a terrifying 25 rows of backward-facing sharp teeth, 300
10:52in total.
10:53They're designed to grasp prey and hold them tight so they can't get away, according
10:58to early studies of the shark conducted in 1884 and published in the Bulletin of the
11:04Essex Institute.
11:06Luckily for swimmers, the Frilled Sharks live between 390 feet and 4,200 feet below the
11:13ocean's surface, so they'll probably never run into them.
11:17Probably.
11:18This is probably the worst nightmare of any dentist.
11:21The Northern Stargazer
11:25Take a look at this cutie.
11:27The Northern Stargazer is definitely not something you'd wish to see on the ocean floor.
11:32This horrid creature hides its body under the sand, leaving its face above to wait for
11:37prey.
11:38Want to high-five a sea creature?
11:41Well, put your flipper, I mean hand up, for the Tasmanian Red Handfish.
11:46This fish doesn't swim like a fish.
11:48It walks.
11:49It uses its flipper-like hands to stroll around on the ocean floor.
11:54These bottom walkers are disturbed by swimmers and boats a lot.
11:58Some people even want to take them home as pets.
12:00I think it's better to just give them a wave and swim on by.
12:05The Vampire Squid
12:07Its species name is Vampyroteuthis infernalis, which translates to Vampire Squid from Hell.
12:14Oh yes, this Vampire Squid means to terrify everyone with its name.
12:19Its dark red color, its spikes at the bottom, and the scary fact that it can basically turn
12:24itself inside out.
12:26The Vampire Squid loves putting on a good show, but it's as harmless as a kitten is
12:31to humans.
12:33It's as if Dracula scared the pants off you, but he didn't have blood-sucking fangs.
12:37The Vampire Squid feeds on food particles from plants and animal matter floating near
12:42the ocean's surface.
12:44Since they're not predators, they need good defensive strategies, and their vampiric look
12:48is designed to ward off large creatures who want to eat them.
12:52Turning themselves inside out is a defensive mechanism since the spiky areas in the inner
12:57skin are more intimidating.
12:59They also shoot out a substance that does not have color, but is packed with bioluminescent
13:05particles to distract predators.
13:08The Vaquita
13:09Going out on a boat off the coast of Mexico sounds like the perfect vacation.
13:14The sun, the blue water, the most endangered sea creature, wait what?
13:19The Vaquita isn't dangerous, but don't expect it to stick around to say hello or sign any
13:24autographs.
13:25It's incredibly shy.
13:27This little cow, that's what it means in Spanish, is one tiny sea mammal.
13:32With those black markings around its eyes, it looks more like a sea panda to me.
13:37Seeing one should make you feel very special.
13:39They're on the brink of extinction, mostly because they get caught by accident in fishing nets.
13:44It's estimated that there's only 10 left in the wild.
13:49The Blue Dragon
13:50This little creature looks like something out of a kid's fantasy movie.
13:54It's called the Blue Glaucus, casually referred to as the Blue Dragon or Blue Angel.
14:00It can be found in many places, the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
14:04It's kind of a mollusk and it only grows to be about an inch long.
14:08What you think is the back is actually the mollusk's bright underbelly.
14:12It regularly floats on its back so that its blue colors help it camouflage with the water's
14:17waves.
14:18The Blue Dragon isn't just pretty, it's also smart.
14:22It usually feasts on Portuguese Man-O-Wars, also known as Fiesalia Fiesalis.
14:28The Blue Dragon stores their stinging cells for later use, in essence, stealing their
14:32defensive mechanisms.
14:34When the Blue Dragon is threatened, it releases those stinging cells it's stored, directing
14:39them at an enemy to sting them with more power than the Portuguese Man-O-War would have been
14:43capable of.
14:44Because they can store a huge amount of stinging cells, they can be a threat to humans.
14:49So if you find one, don't pick it up.
14:51It's best to admire it from a distance.
14:54The Barreleye Fish
14:56If you ever wanted to have Superman's X-ray vision, looking at the Barreleye fish will
15:00make you feel like you gained that superpower at some point in your life without even realizing
15:05it.
15:06The Barreleye has a transparent head so you can see how their eyes and brain look inside.
15:11This magnificent creature lives in the deep sea.
15:15This is the lowest level of the ocean, where strange creatures roam in near-freezing temperatures
15:20and constant darkness.
15:22They're exposed to water's pressure that's almost 1,000 times that of the surface.
15:27If the idea of the deep sea sends a shiver down your spine, stay tuned to learn about
15:32another of its creatures later on.
15:35The Barreleye fish can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
15:39You might be wondering, why oh why would a fish have a see-through head?
15:44And that would be a fair question.
15:45Since the species was discovered in 1939, it was believed that the fish's eyes were
15:50set to see straight ahead and couldn't move.
15:53So it was assumed that they had tunnel vision.
15:56Scientists Bruce Robinson and Kim Riesenbichler from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
16:01recently discovered that the fish can move its eyes vertically to see through the top
16:05of its translucent head, thus noticing if there are predators or prey nearby.
16:11The transparent head also allows more light to enter so they can detect prey better.
16:16It's believed that the Barreleye fish eats jellyfish and small fish species.
16:22If you dive in the ocean at night, you might be lucky enough to see how orange ball coralimorph
16:27blooms in the dark.
16:29But make sure to be quick because as soon as you turn on your flashlight to take a good
16:33look, it will retract its tubes back into itself.
16:37The Megalodon
16:38The whale shark isn't the biggest shark known to humans.
16:41If the entire shark species were a kingdom, the prehistoric megalodon would be the ruler
16:46of the sea.
16:48Megalodon roamed the ocean a long time ago, oh about 15.9 to 2.6 million years back between
16:54the early Miocene and late Pliocene eras.
16:57While they've long been extinct, people are still amazed to learn about these gigantic
17:01sea beasts.
17:02That's it for today!
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